"I highly laud President Jokowis first state visit to Timor Leste, and I hope the president will hold talks on seeking a settlement of Indonesian assets in Timor Leste," Martin Hutabarat of the Gerindra Party faction at the House of Representatives (DPR) remarked here on Tuesday.
He affirmed that it is an historic state visit by President Jokowi to Timor Leste as the two countries share strong emotional relations.
Hutabarat noted that almost all cabinet members and officials of the Timor Leste government had graduated from various universities in Indonesia.
Further, he reiterated that President Jokowi could achieve a diplomatic breakthrough with the Timor Leste government to reach a settlement on Indonesian assets in the form of lands, farms, and houses of thousands of Indonesian citizens of Timor Leste origin.
"They have since long been seeking a settlement of their assets, but it had never received serious attention from the government," Hutabarat pointed out.
President Jokowi and his entourage arrived in Dili, Timor Leste, at 10 a.m. local time on a state visit to the country.
Presidential Palace spokesman Ari Dwipayana remarked here on Tuesday that in the company of First Lady Iriana, the president and his entourage arrived in Dili after a two-hour flight from Denpasars Ngurah Rai International Airport aboard the presidential aircraft, Indonesia-1.
While in Dili, the president will meet his Timor Leste counterpart President Taur Matan Ruak and Prime Minister Maria De Araujo.
The main agenda of the talks between Jokowi and Timor Lestes leaders is to intensify cooperation in trade, investment, energy development, infrastructure development, and the settlement of border issues.
The Timor Leste government will award President Jokowi the highest service medal of Grande Colar de Ordem de Timor Leste.
The two governments would sign five memoranda of understanding on cooperation in the areas of youth and sports, search and rescue, energy, petroleum, and mineral resources.
Before returning to Indonesia on Tuesday evening, the president and his entourage will visit the Metinaro and Seroja military cemeteries.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2016
