Indonesia is Timor Leste's Main Partner for Development: President

Semarang, C Java, Jan 26 (Antara) - Indonesia has become the main partner for the development of Timor Leste besides being a friendly country and its nearest neighbor, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) stated. "Indonesia and Timor Leste are united and bound by geographic proximity and culture," President Jokowi noted here on Tuesday as quoted by Ari Dwipayana, a member of the Presidential communications team. The head of state reiterated the commitment of Indonesia as a key partner in the development of Timor Leste. "Indonesia has committed to enhancing cooperation with Timor Leste in various fields," President Jokowi remarked. In addition, the president expressed gratitude for being awarded the country's highest medal of honor, Grande Colar de Ordem de Timor-Leste. "It is an honor for me. This award is a huge responsibility for maintaining friendship, brotherhood, and close cooperation between the two countries," the president emphasized. The president hoped the visit would strengthen bilateral relations between Indonesia and Timor Leste. President Jokowi and his entourage arrived in Dili, Timor Leste, at 10 a.m. local time on a state visit to the country. The president and his entourage landed in Dili after a two-hour flight from Denpasar's Ngurah Rai International Airport aboard the presidential aircraft, Indonesia-1. President Jokowi during his state visit to Timor Leste on Tuesday is expected to discuss the settlement of Indonesian assets in the country, a legislator had stated earlier. "I highly laud President Jokowi's first state visit to Timor Leste, and I hope the president will hold talks on seeking a settlement of Indonesian assets in Timor Leste," Martin Hutabarat of the Gerindra Party faction at the House of Representatives (DPR) remarked here on Tuesday. He affirmed that this is a historic state visit of President Jokowi to Timor Leste as the two countries share strong emotional relations. Hutabarat noted that almost all cabinet members and officials of the Timor Leste government had graduated from various universities in Indonesia. He further pointed out that President Jokowi could achieve a diplomatic breakthrough with the Timor Leste government to reach a settlement on Indonesian assets in the form of lands, farms, and houses of thousands of Indonesian citizens of Timor Leste origin. "They have since long been seeking a settlement of their assets, but it had never received serious attention from the government," Hutabarat added.