[The following letter to the the Sydney Morning Herald editor was issued by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Dr Jose Ramos-Horta.]

The Editor, Sydney Morning Herald, Sydney July 11, 2002

Dear Sir,

In "Pragmatic East Timor says China is its closest ally" (SMH July 11 2002), the position of the East Timorese Government and of my own were not fully represented.

In the interview with your Correspondent, I made the following comments to each specific question asked. I recall some points.

On China, I said that my government wishes to develop "the closest possible relationship" with China. No mention was made of China being East Timor "closest ally".

No two countries are more important to East Timor than our two closest neighbors, Australia and Indonesia, and my President and Government have spared no effort in cementing this very important relationship.

We are also forging bi-lateral ties with our other neighbors, namely the other ASEAN countries, as well the Republic of Korea and Japan.

I was asked to comment on the relationship with Portugal and I responded by stating that if it were not for Portugal's decisive contribution East Timor would not be free today.

We attach equal importance to our relations with the European Union as a whole, the Nordic countries, and the US, all of whom have contributed enormously to peace and our economic development.

Our very basic stance is to seek friends with a view towards enhancing our independence and economic well-being.

On the human rights front, I stated that as a rule I prefer discreet diplomacy in trying to address problems of conflict and human rights rather than lecturing others.

Jose Ramos-Horta Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Senior Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation East Timor