Warm welcome for world's newest nation

Warm welcome for world's newest nation

Agencies, Hong Kong, China

China claimed first place in the race to forge diplomatic ties
with East Timor on Monday as the world's 192nd nation was given a
warm welcome by its regional neighbors.

In the agreement establishing relations, East Timor promised
not to have any official contacts with Taiwan, the island China
claims as part of its territory, Xinhua said.

East Timor also accepted China's view that "Taiwan is an
inalienable part of Chinese territory," Xinhua said in a report
from Dili, the East Timorese capital.

China, meanwhile, said it "respects the independence,
sovereignty and territorial integrity" of East Timor. The two
sides also pledged to expand trade and economic relations.

Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan said there was "great
potential" for China and East Timor to work together in oil and
gas exploration, agriculture, fisheries and telecommunications,
Xinhua said.

Pope John Paul on Monday urged East Timor to create a free and
peaceful society as the Vatican announced it had established
diplomatic relations with the fledgling democracy.

The Pope said he sent his warmest wishes to President Xanana
Gusmao, adding the country's future lay in the hands of those who
would set up and protect society.

"At such an important moment in your history, as you prepare
to become one of the earth's free nations, I am spiritually close
to you, sharing in your joy and spurring you on to create a just,
free, stable and peaceful society," he said in a message to the
country's 740,000 citizens.

Japan, Australia, the Philippines and Singapore were all quick
to congratulate East Timor on formally throwing off the shackles
of 450 years of colonial rule in a ceremony attended by world
leaders late on Sunday.

Australia named its first ambassador to East Timor and even
the press in Indonesia -- whose 24-year occupation sparked a
guerrilla war resulting in the deaths of at least 100,000 East
Timorese -- had kind words for its former territory.

But as thousands of jubilant East Timorese thronged the
streets of Dili, a key regional body looked set to inject a
sobering note into the celebrations.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has reacted
coolly to East Timor's application to join and is expected to
move cautiously before enrolling its 11th member.

ASEAN has been criticized for moving too quickly to embrace
Myanmar, which is accused of human rights abuses, and many within
the organization claim it hamstrung by its consensus ethos.

East Timor's application will be discussed at the July ASEAN
Regional Forum in Brunei, where it has been invited as a "guest",
but Singapore Foreign Minister S. Jayakumar warned there would be
no rushed decision.

An application to join the United Nations, ratified in East
Timor's very first parliament session on Monday, received a
slightly more positive reaction from visiting UN Secretary
General Kofi Annan.

"All nations are equals... the doors of the United Nations are
open to rich or poor nations, small or big nations," Annan said
after receiving the application.

The festival atmosphere also looked set to be tempered by a
looming spat with Australia over oil field profits. A treaty was
signed on Monday on Timor Sea oil and gas revenues, but Prime
Minister Mari Alkatiri said Dili would try to claim a larger
share of the bounty.

Canberra confirmed James Batley would be its first ambassador
to the new country and said it would continue to give military
and economic support but showed no sign of backing down on the
oil dispute.

Perhaps surprisingly, Indonesian media led the tributes on
Monday and expressed hope for close relations.

The leading Kompas daily said a new page should be turned in
relations between Jakarta and its former province, which broke
away in 1999.

"For a new page in relations to be smooth and clean, we must
remind everyone that there is a requirement, that is, a mutual
understanding. Not only from Indonesia but also from East Timor,"
Kompas said.

Singapore said East Timor had faced "overwhelming odds" in its
struggle for nationhood.

"The East Timorese people have exhibited a remarkable degree
of resilience in their quest for nationhood," Singapore President
S.R. Nathan said.

Japan also promised its support for the new country and set up
diplomatic ties on Monday.

"Our country will continue working together with the
international community to provide as much assistance as possible
for East Timor's nation-building," Foreign Minister Yoriko
Kawaguchi said in a statement.