Jakarta, Indonesia — Mozambican Foreign Minister Leonardo Simao said in Jakarta has encouraged Indonesia to proceed with its "positive attitude" towards its dealings with East Timor.
Simao was speaking after a meeting with the Indonesian Minister for Political, Economic, Security and Social Matters, Susilo Mabmaben Yudhoyono, at the end of Simao's four-day visit to Indonesia Thursday
He told reporters that in their meeting, he discussed with Yudhoyono the situation in East Timor, which languished under illegal Indonesian occupation for 25 years before the Timorese people voted overwhelmingly for independence.
"I have encouraged the continuation of the positive attitude of the Indonesian government and that nobody should feel discouraged by any difficulties encountered along the way," said Simao.
Referring to the various secessionist movements in the archipelago, Simao added: "I have also expressed our government's solidarity concerning the difficulties that Indonesia is facing, and our support for maintaining the country's territorial integrity."
He said the Mozambican government understood the challenges that Indonesia faced in carrying out democratic reforms, while at the same time protecting citizens and their property.
Simao said he has asked Yudhoyono to encourage other ministries and the Indonesian business community to co-operate and invest in Mozambique.
Asked whether he had requested Indonesian support for police training, Simao said: "I have spoken of matters related to police and security in general."
He recalled that Mozambique has recently created a police academy, and noted that "all experience that we may acquire from other countries may be useful in the training of a police with a new profile, more appropriate to democracy and to the country's economic situation today."
He noted that issues related to drug trafficking and to transnational crime are of concern to all countries.
He explained that one of the objectives of the meeting with Yudhoyono was to make clear the need of co-operation between the two countries in all these fields, and that was attained.
During his visit, Simao also met his Indonesian counterpart, Alwi Shihab, President Abdurrahman Wahid and deputy President, Megawatti Sukarnuputri.
Simao has now left Indonesia for the East Timorese capital, Dili.
