S'pore, Japan to train E. Timorese

S'pore, Japan to train E. Timorese

SINGAPORE (AFP): Japan and Singapore agreed here on Monday to
provide training to East Timor government officials and police as
part of a joint technical assistance program for developing
countries.

Japanese Foreign Minister Yohei Kono met with his Singapore
counterpart S. Jayakumar and discussed ways of helping the
territory, which was wracked by bloodshed after voting for
independence from Indonesia last year.

The two ministers met while Kono was in transit in Singapore
from a visit to Indonesia and East Timor.

The assistance is to be carried out under the Japan-Singapore
Partnership Program for the 21st century (JSPP21), a joint aid
plan for developing countries.

Under the program, East Timorese trainees are to be sent to
Singapore and the costs will be shared evenly by Japan and
Singapore.