Denpasar – The president of Timor Leste, Xanana Gusmao, rejected [the idea] he was not close to Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) and that this would be problematic for bilateral relations. On Saturday (23 October) in Legian, Bali, Xanana said that he was optimistic that the close relations they had established would continue in the future.

Xanana then said that his willingness to become the president of Timor Leste when the 2001 elections were held was partly due to SBY's encouragement. "One day SBY called me when I was in Jakarta and he asked me to become president for five years to ensure good relations with Indonesia," he said. At the time, SBY was the coordinating minister for political and security affairs in Megawati's cabinet.

Xanana felt the need to explain that to indicate he was close to SBY and not only with certain other people. If there was an impression before the Indonesian elections that he was closer to Wiranto as presidential candidate, Xanana said that was only because of the frequent meetings he held with Wiranto. According to Xanana, Indonesia and Timor Leste no longer have crucial problems. The only problems are border problems, which are more technical and geographic in nature. In other areas, he said, the only remaining consideration would be further closer cooperation.

[From BBC World Monitoring.]