East Timor: Visiting Indonesian Governor Agrees to Cross-border Cooperation 8 Jun-12:40

The governor of Indonesian West Timor met with UN officials and East Timorese leaders in Dili Thursday, pledging new initiatives and cooperation on the divided island. During his 12-hour visit, which included a roundtable meeting with UNTAET chief Sergio Vieira de Mello, CNRT leader Xanana Gusmao, and Bishop Carlos Ximenes Belo, among others, Gov. Piet Tallo made commitments on a number of issues, dealing with refugees, border tensions and trade. On the thorny question of the more than 100,000 refugees in West Timor, Gov. 

Piet Tallo said he was "pleased" to have them as "brothers" but would be "even more pleased if they returned home." Among other initiatives, the two sides agreed: - to exchanges of journalists to help combat "disinformation" campaigns in refugee camps; - to organize a visit by West Timorese entrepreneurs to encourage trade; and - to continue studying the payment of pensions to former Indonesian civil servants and the opening of a land corridor between East Timor and its Oe Cusse enclave.

SAS -Lusa-

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