Jakarta – Deputy Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin denied that Timor Leste Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao made a statement saying that his country wanted to reunite with Indonesia.

Sjafrie issued the clarification following numerous online news outlets that reported Xanana stating that the country wanted to join Indonesia, more than 15 years after Timor Leste achieved independence through a United Nations-sponsored referendum.

Sjafrie, who accompanied Xanana during his visit to Surabaya, East Java, to attend the 69th anniversary of the Indonesian Military (TNI), said that the Timor Leste Prime Minister never made such a statement and that he was misquoted by the local media.

"The Indonesian government has recognized the sovereignty of Timor Leste since its independence and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao never made such a statement about joining Indonesia," Sjafrie said as quoted by tribunnews.com.

Sjafrie added that Xanana did speak with Indonesian officials, but that the discussion concerned border and security issues as well as cooperation between armed forces, especially concerning the training of Timor Leste soldiers.

Several journalists who interviewed Xanana during the TNI anniversary celebration later acknowledged that they mistook Xanana's use of the word "we won't," with "we want."

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/10/11/sjafrie-says-xanana-was-misquoted.html