"President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has hinted support for Timor Leste to join ASEAN. It is time for East Timor to be part of ASEAN," President Yudhoyono`s aide, Teuku Faizasyah, said.
Speaking to newsmen after a meeting between East Timorese Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao and President Yudhoyono at the Merdeka Palace here Tuesday, he said the two leaders had discussed the matter.
In Indonesia`s position as the ASEAN president, its support would be so meaningful for the accepting process of East Timor to become the regional organization`s full member state, he said.
At the friendly meeting, the East Timorese government appreciated Indonesia for providing its students with easiness to get temporary residential permits during their study period.
"There are four thousand East Timorese university students in Indonesia," he said.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Premier Xanana Gusmao witnessed the signings of a number of memorandums of understanding at the Merdeka Palace.
Among the MoUs, signed by related ministers, were related to decentralization and management technical cooperation, educational and transportation cooperation, diplomatic training program, capacity building in public works, as well as marine, fishery, tourism and trade technical cooperation.
During the meeting, President Yudhoyono was accompanied by such cabinet members as Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro, Marine and Fishery Minister Fadel Muhammad, Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, Transportation Minister Freddy Numberi, Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu, Minister for National Education Muhammad Nur, State Secretary Minister Sudi Silalahi and Military Chief Admiral Agus Suhartono.
Xanana Gusmao was accompanied by Foreign Minister Zacarias da Costa, Economic and Development Minister Joao Goncalves, Infrastructure Minister Pedro Lay da Silva, Tourism, Trade and Industry Minister Gil Alves, Minister for Agriculture and Fishery Mariano Assanami Sabino, Military Chief Major Gen.Taur Matan Ruak, and East Timorese Ambassador to Indonesia Manuel Serrano.
East Timor is Indonesia`s former province, which seceded from the unitary state after majority of its people opted for going away from Indonesia in a UN-sponsored and organized plebiscite in 1999.
(T.P008*D013/R013/HAJM/F001)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
