East Timor: Lisbon pledges help to create central bank, fight money laundering

Lisbon, Oct. 27 (Lusa) - Portugal will continue assisting East Timor in its efforts to combat money laundering and also help the new nation create a central bank, Dili officials have announced.

After Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri's meetings Tuesday in Lisbon with Portuguese Finance Minister Fernando Teixeira dos Santos and Bank of Portugal Governor Vitor Constancio, a Dili communiqué said the Timorese leader received "pledges of continued support" from Portugal.

Specialist assistance from Lisbon and the need to train Timorese customs officials were discussed in Alkatiri's meeting with Teixeira dos Santos, the statement said.

Possible help from Lisbon to transform Dili's banking and payments authority into a fully-fledged central bank were raised in the Timorese leader's talks with Constancio.

Lisbon has also offered to help Dili train specialist staff to work in anti-money laundering operations, added the Timorese statement.

Alkatiri, making his third official trip to Portugal, is in Lisbon for two days for contacts with senior officials, including heads of state and government, before traveling to Cape Verde on a two-day visit starting Friday.

IRE/CJB.

Lusa

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