EAST TIMOR: Telling President Alexandre Xanana Gusmao "we are very proud of you", Mr David Andrews yesterday offered East Timor additional "technical" help on behalf of the Taoiseach. The former foreign minister was Mr Ahern's representative at East Timor's independence celebrations.
At the meeting in the former colonial government building, Mr Andrews told Mr Gusmao he hoped when Timor's oil revenues began to flow in three years, they would be directed at development projects for the people.
"Don't be persuaded by others to divert from your vision," he said, perhaps in a reference to the more hardline Chief Minister, Mr Mari Alkatiri. Mr Gusmao's state was "cut from the same cloth as Ireland. You, too, have a vision - an idealism - that my parents had," Mr Andrews said.
The former EU special representative on East Timor continued: "Just let us know if you need anything and we will bend over backwards to provide it - with a heart and a half." He added: "I think you are on the right track."
Mr Andrews also announced an Irish school development project for the village of Fatoluro, where Pte Peadar Ó Flaithearta (21) was killed last month, as a project for Ireland Aid. Mr Brendan Rogers of Ireland Aid told the president he was there to put in place a wider aid programme which would demonstrate Ireland's long-term commitment. It would start with a series of workshops.
No Government decision has yet been made on diplomatic relations with East Timor. However, Mr Andrews foreshadowed the idea of "a small mission here" - which is now the commodious Ireland Aid office - and of Ireland's embassy in Singapore serving East Timor. Hugely enjoying himself, Mr Andrews suggested that East Timor "reverse the trend" and place its embassy in Dublin, "with accreditation to Her Majesty the Queen in London".
President Gusmao quaked with laughter at this notion.