"I wish it could be settled in 2014 at the latest."Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has called for the resolution of the problem of former East Timor residents in East Nusa Tenggara by 2014.
"I wish it could be settled in 2014 at the latest," he said at a limited cabinet meeting at the West Nusa Tenggara provincial governor`s hall here on Friday.
The meeting was attended by chief economic minister Hatta Rajasa and several other ministers, as well as West Nusa Tenggara governor Zainul Majdi, East Nusa Tenggara deputy governor Esthon Foenay, Bali governor Made Mangku Pastika, and district heads and mayors from West Nusa Tenggara.
It discussed three important issues: the implementation of the Master Plan for the Acceleration and Expansion of Economic Development (MP3EI) programs in Corridor V (which includes West Nusa Tenggara, East Nusa Tengggara and Bali); poverty eradication efforts by provincial, district, and city governments; and empowerment of former East Timor residents in East Nusa Tenggara.
Regarding the problem of former East Timor residents, President Yudhoyono said the government had made various efforts since 2009, but the problem had not yet been completely resolved.
He said it was the government`s responsibility to settle the matter. "It must indeed be settled. After they decided to join us in 2009, it has been the responsibility of the state to provide them with settlements and economic assistance," he explained.
President Yudhoyono said a huge budget was needed to rehabilitate the residents and the state was committed to the responsibility.
"After this meeting I will monitor its implementation, so it will not be hindered," he said.
President Yudhoyono was in the city on his way to Timor Leste to attend the inauguration of Jose Maria Vasconcelos, popularly known as Taur Matan Ruak, as the new president of the island nation on May 20.
(Uu.H-YH/INE/KR-BSR)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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