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.