Apr 25 19:33

HABIBIE INVITED TO ATTEND E TIMOR INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Former President BJ Habibie has been officially invited by East Timor President Xanana Gusmao to attend the commemoration of the country`s independence anniversary in Dili on November 22 this year, a press statement from the Habibie Center said here Monday.

According to the statement, Xanana extended the formal invitation when he visited Habibie at the latter`s residence at Patra Kuningan on Saturday.

The statement said that during the visit, Xanana was accomopanied by the East Timor ambassador to Indonesia and two of his staff while Habibie was accompanied by former Justice Minister Muladi.

However, the statement which was signed by Muladi made no mention whether Habibie would meet the invitation.

During the meeting, both Xanana and Habibie shared the opinion that the friendship between Indonesia and East Timor should be stepped up without ignoring past experience as a valuable lesson.

Xanana admitted that basic problems in his country that needed immediate solutions were unemployment and human resources development.

According to the statement, Habibie and Xanana reached an agreement that a team of experts from the Habibie Center, Bandung Institute of Technology, Gajah Mada University and the University of Indonesia would conduct a feasibility study in East Timor in the near future on the possibility of setting up a politechnic institute in the country.

In the near future, the plan would be reported to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the statement said.(*)