BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific - Political

September 6, 2001, Thursday

East Timorese leaders reiterate commitment to government of inclusion

SOURCE: RDP Antena 1 radio, Lisbon, in Portuguese 0900 gmt 6 Sep 01

Presenter In Timor, Fretilin Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor has on an absolute majority in the first elections for the constituent assembly... We have on the line a Fretilin leader, Mari Alkatiri, good morning.

Alkatiri Good afternoon from here.

Presenter Can we ask you if the next government in Timor will really be a government of inclusion?

Alkatiri No doubt about it. This is the concept we advocate, the principle we want to defend. I think everyone has accepted this, I don't think the candidates themselves will reject this.

Presenter Will we see UDT's Timorese Democratic Union Joao Carrascalao next to Mari Alkatiri, for example?

Alkatiri That is not an issue, because if we are talking of a government of inclusion, it does not mean one of alliances between political leaders. Naturally if we choose Joao Carrascalao it will not be because he is president of UDT, we will choose according to the individual's abilities. This is what we want.

Presenter So from now on party colours do not matter, what is needed is a government to build the future of Timor.

Alkatiri Yes, yes. We have said several times that instead of thinking of a coalition between parties, we should think of a coalition of talents. This country needs skills to be reborn with vigour and this is what we hope to do.

Presenter Thank you for speaking to us live. That was Mari Alkatiri, the future first prime minister of the second transitional government of East Timor. .. Jose Ramos Horta, current foreign minister, fully agrees with Fretilin and Mari Alkatiri.

Horta I agree fully with Fretilin's concept of a government of inclusion which will give preference to skills and integrity and not to membership of party A, B or C. I think that Fretilin, above all, has shown that it reality wants a government of inclusion which will have people from parties which did not even obtain 1 per cent in the elections, one deputy - as long as the person has talent - this is a great historic opportunity, a golden opportunity for Fretilin to show that it is a party of statesmen.

Reporter Do you think Joao Carrascalao will be part of this government?

Horta I would like it to be so. I would like to see the entire process of reconciliation, of inclusion to involve UDT, a historic party which was not very successful in these elections. The people decided not to vote for it, but it has capable people. Some of its people fought for 24 years, Joao Carrascalao, Domingos Oliveira - I would like to see them as part of the government but obviously that is a decision for Fretilin, but not just for Fretilin. If Fretilin decides to invite Joao Carrascalao and Domingos Oliveira this would be major proof of maturity.

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