| Subject: Timor sends message on Irish aid
Irish Times
Timor sends message on Irish aid
April 15, 2005 3:34pm
Europe Intelligence Wire
IRELAND: East Timor's Foreign Minister, Jose Ramos-Horta, left Ireland
yesterday saying he felt reassured that Irish development commitment to
his country "is for the long-term, over the next 10 or even 20
years".
Minister of State for Development Co-operation Conor Lenihan told him
Ireland intended to deepen and enhance its commitment when it next reviews
priority country strategy for East Timor. Dr Ramos-Horta, a Nobel Peace
laureate, spoke with warmth of other meetings with Minister of Enterprise,
Trade, and Employment Micheal Martin and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.
The visitor came with a message "to our rich friends, including
Ireland" not to think of reducing their aid in anticipation of oil
revenues from 2007. East Timor, Ireland's only Asian priority country, has
received over 18 million since its 1999 vote for independence from
Indonesia.
Mr Lenihan said technical and financial help in health, education, and
for East Timor's judiciary (which has hardly any judges) would be
considered. "We will be approaching the legal profession to see how
they can help," he said. He will also investigate formalising a
relationship with Irish and Timorese universities. Ireland hoped to help
and learn from its "very good relationship" with East Timor, he
said.
East Timor last week signed an agreement with Indonesia clarifying 96
per cent of their mutual borders, as part of a reconciliation process.
However Dr Ramos-Horta said East Timor needed a long period of domestic
stability to execute development plans.
If Ireland, perhaps in partnership with former colonial power Portugal,
decided to be "a strategic mentor" Timor could be transformed in
20 years by targeting specific areas, including information technology, he
maintains.
Tough oil negotiations with Australia should be resolved next month.
Afterwards several $100 million annual revenues can be expected. But he
said Timor was determined to learn from others' mistakes and wanted to
develop a strong non-oil sector through investment incentives.
East Timor's most sensitive issue, however, is about justice for past
atrocities under Indonesia. Dr Ramos-Horta defended his government's Truth
and Friendship process, which involves Indonesia, and Timor's refusal to
press for an international tribunal. A tribunal would produce "a huge
backlash" in Indonesia and East Timorese would be the ones to suffer.
It would also undermine a growing Indonesian willingness to confront its
past. He said: "Indonesia is changing."
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