BBC Monitoring International Reports

April 23, 2003

EAST TIMORESE FOREIGN MINISTER ASKS JAPAN FOR MORE AID

Tokyo, 23 April: East Timorese Foreign Minister Jose Ramos-Horta met Japan's Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi in Tokyo on Wednesday 23 April and sought more aid for his country. Ramos-Horta expressed gratitude for the aid given so far and requested continued Japanese assistance in the areas of fishing, farming and tourism, foreign ministry officials said.

Kawaguchi promised Ramos-Horta that Japan will make all possible efforts to help East Timor and said that a decision has been made to disburse 470,000 dollars to the Commission for Reception, Truth and Reconciliation. Japan has already announced its intention to provide 1m dollars to the commission, an independent organization tasked with inquiring into human rights violations and working for community reconciliation in East Timor, which achieved independence last May.

Ramos-Horta told Kawaguchi that his country is stable and that plans for demarcating a border with Indonesia are likely to go smoothly. He also said that there are prospects of his country generating revenues from oil development. Kawaguchi extended an invitation for East Timorese President Xanana Gusmao to visit Japan this year, while Ramos-Horta asked Kawaguchi to visit East Timor.

Source: Kyodo News Service, Tokyo, in English 1413 gmt 23 Apr 03

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