National

Yudhoyono and Gusmao Evaluate Relationship of Both Countries
Friday, 17 December, 2004 | 21:49 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Tampak Siring, Bali:Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and East Timorese President Xanana Gusmao met at the Tampak Siring Palace in Bali on Tuesday night (14/12).

According to Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirajuda, the leaders of Indonesia and East Timor reviewed the diplomatic relationship between the two countries during the last three years.

“From the review that we have made, there has been good progress made since the freedom of East Timor, including matters involving Indonesia and East Timor borders, Indonesian citizens in East Timor, conversion of Indonesia’s assets in East Timor and the settlement of human rights cases,” Wirajuda told reporters following the meeting.

The issue of Indonesian citizens has been mostly discussed following the recent extradition of hundreds of Indonesians from East Timor.

Several people hoped that President Yudhoyono and President Gusmao would also discuss this matter in their meeting.

As regards borders, Wirajuda said, the two governments have settled around 96 percent of border problems.

As for maritime borders, the two governments will discuss this after settling land border matters.

“We hope that in the first quarter of next year, we will have settled all problems related to maritime borders,” stated Wirajuda.

Wirajuda considered that the settlement process of land borders, which has been carried out within three-year time, was completed very fast.

He compared this process with the settlement of Indonesia and Vietnam border areas, which took 20 years.

According to Wirajuda, more technical problems regarding Indonesia and East Timor borders shall be discussed at ministerial level.

He added that the two governments will build immigration and police stations in border areas of Indonesia and East Timor.

The governments would also allow the people of the two countries not to use visa when they cross the bordering areas within a radius of five kilometers.

“We will issue a kind of identity card. Indonesia is prepared to issue this identity card. However, East Timorese government is not yet prepared for the implementation of this policy,” said Wirajuda. (Raden Rahmadi-Tempo News Room)