Xanana's receives red-carpet welcome
Xanana's receives red-carpet welcome
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
East Timor President Xanana Gusmao made his historic first
official visit to Jakarta on Tuesday, complete with full state
welcome, red carpet and 21-gun salute.
In an amazing twist of fate, Indonesian Military (TNI)
officers, who had hunted him down as a separatist guerrilla
leader in the past, paid salute to Xanana as leader of the newly
born neighboring country.
Standing side by side with Indonesian President Megawati
Soekarnoputri at the tribute, Gusmao looked content as the East
Timor national anthem Patria patria was played by TNI's corps of
musicians, along with the raising of the East Timor national
flag.
Gusmao then inspected the guard of honor and bowed deeply to
honor the two countries' national flags before having talks with
Megawati.
The East Timor President was once jailed for seven years in
Cipinang penitentiary in East Jakarta for leading a separatist
movement in the former Indonesian province of East Timor.
However, his long battle for East Timor's liberty ended when
the results of the UN-sponsored referendum in August 1999
revealed that most East Timorese had voted for independence after
23 years of Indonesian rule.
Gusmao, since being elected, has made friendly gestures and
shown deep respect for Indonesia, with Jakarta scheduled for his
first state visit as President.
In the joint media conference, Gusmao, speaking in Bahasa
Indonesia repeatedly gave thanks for the grand welcome and
underlined that the two countries would settle residual problems,
following separation, in friendly ways.
"We talked on many issues of cooperation between our two
countries, especially on how to settle residual problems. I hope
the relationship between Indonesia and East Timor will bring
friendship, peace and a better future," he said.
Megawati, who started the media conference with a light story
on East Timor's name, said they had a "warm and fruitful
discussion" to improve the relationship between both countries.
"We talked about a comprehensive solution to problems between
our states, such as on assets and on both sea and land borders.
We also offered cooperation in the fields of energy, trade and
transportation," Megawati said.
The two leaders then witnessed the signing of a joint
communique, which increased the diplomatic status of both
countries to ambassador level, and of a memorandum of
understanding for the establishment of a joint forum to discuss
bilateral issues.
The signing was done by Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan
Wirayuda and his East Timor counterpart, Ramos Horta.
Later in the day, Gusmao held meetings with House of
Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung, Coordinating Minister for
Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and
Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan, before attending a state
banquet at the State Palace.