Jakarta – Top level government delegations from East Timor and Indonesia signed an agreement Wednesday to control border traffic between the two halves of Timor island. The accord came after two hours of talks led by Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri and Timorese Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri, who is on his first official visit to Timor's former occupying power.

Alkatiri told reporters the meeting had been "extraordinarily positive and fruitful", and that the Timorese delegation were "warmly received". "There was always much frankness and openness from the Indonesians and a willingness to approach problems. There are pending matters, but we will continue to try and resolve them", Alkatiri said.

Dili had reaffirmed its wish to strengthen relations with Jakarta, both because of geographical proximity and bilateral cultural ties. "We will transform the borders into a means for connection and not separation and convert the sea into an ocean of peace and stability in the region", he said, adding that both governments were aware they had a duty to bring the two nations even closer.

Megawati gave a similar upbeat account of the meeting, saying: "We are committed creating bilateral relations and cooperation. Political and social relations have to be supported so as to achieve friendly future relations". The Indonesian leader said the two delegations had discussed pensions for ex-Indonesian workers, the question of private Indonesian assets in Timor and Jakarta's war graves in its former province. Wednesday's border agreement will ease the movement of people and goods between Indonesian West Timor and the independent half of the island.

Alkatiri was on the first day of a three-day Jakarta visit and is accompanied by five cabinet ministers, including Foreign Minister Josi Ramos Horta and Finance Minister Madalena Boavida, along with 15 of Timor's top businessmen. The Timorese leader said Monday that his trip was aimed to establish "good personal relations with Indonesia's leaders". In addition to his talks with Megawati, Alkatiri is due to meet, among others, the president of the Consultative Assembly, Amien Rais, and the speaker of parliament, Akbar Tanjung.