Fed: East Timor wants Australian troops to remain

AAP General News (Australia)
12-14-2007
Fed: East Timor wants Australian troops to remain

CANBERRA, Dec 14 AAP - East Timor says it is not concerned about a "left, centre or
right" Australian government - it just wants the country's troops to stay as long as needed.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is due to arrive in Dili today along with Foreign Minister
Stephen Smith on their way home from the climate change summit in Bali.

About 800 Australian troops have been in the troubled former Indonesian province since
early this year after violence erupted in the build-up to the April presidential elections.

The new East Timor government has been in power for about six months but tensions remain
and 30,000 people are still living in refugee camps.

Mr Rudd has indicated that during his visit he will reassure President Jose Ramos Horta
that Australian soldiers will remain for as long as they are needed.

Deputy Prime Minister Jose Luis Guterres said that move would be greatly appreciated.

"We do appreciate the commitment by the Australian government and we hope that the
current prime minister also will accept the continuation of troops in East Timor," Mr
Guterres told ABC radio today.

He said East Timor's relationship with Australia would not change under the new Labor government.

"I think that we are neighbours and whether we have left, centre or right government
it is our duty to maintain good relations of neighbours and friendship."

AAP kc/rl/jt/bwl

KEYWORD: TIMOR GUTERRES

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