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Jakarta to open diplomatic post in E Timor

MANILA: Indonesia plans to open a diplomatic mission in East Timor this month in a move coinciding with the visit of President Abdurrahman Wahid to the former Jakarta-ruled territory, East Timorese leader Jose Ramos-Horta said on Monday.

"He (Wahid) is going to visit us February 24. They're going to open a diplomatic mission in East Timor," Ramos-Horta told a luncheon-meeting with Philippine business and church leaders.

Wahid's projected visit would be the first by an Indonesian leader to East Timor since the territory voted in August last year to break free from 24 years of often brutal rule by Jakarta.

Ramos-Horta, a Nobel laureate for peace, and fellow East Timorese independence leader Xanana Gusmao are visiting the Philippines in the course of an Asian tour to mobilise international financial and political support for the territory.

East Timor was devastated from violence by Indonesian army-backed militias opposed to its independence after the territory voted for an end to Jakarta's rule.

Ramos-Horta said his undeveloped country offered rich investment opportunities for businessmen and that the Philippines had a stake in East Timor because the two were the only overwhelmingly Roman Catholic areas in Asia.

He provoked laughter when he said East Timor had much to learn from the Philippines' economic mishaps -- a reference to this country's reputation of often lagging behind its neighbours in economic development.

"After all, you are older as a state, (with) far greater experience, greater human resources. You went through all the possible mistakes anyone can make. You have made all the mistakes, you are not making any now and we fully trust you," Ramos-Horta said.-Reuters