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.