EAST TIMOR: In an apparent goodwill gesture President Bush is sending his predecessor, Mr Bill Clinton, to represent the United States at independence celebrations in East Timor next weekend.
Meanwhile, the Government is to be represented by Mr David Andrews, who as minister for foreign affairs was EU special representative on East Timor during the presidency of Finland in 1999.
The ceremonial handover of power from the transitional UN administration, UNTAET, to the century's first new country will be made by the UN Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan.
Like Mr Andrews, the former US president played a significant role in paving the way towards Timorese independence.
Mr Clinton warned Indonesia that loans from the IMF and the World Bank could be suspended if it did not accept international peacekeepers in September 1999 after pro Indonesian militias wrecked the country and capital, Dili, killing up to 1,200 people. Despite intimidation, 78.5 per cent of the people had voted for independence.
As president, Mr Clinton supported a UN peacekeeping mission to East Timor to quell violence following the referendum.
The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, nominated Mr Andrews (who is not standing for re-election) to represent Ireland. The gesture was strongly supported by Mr Tom Hyland, of the East Timor Ireland Solidarity Campaign.
The ceremonies will also be attended by Mr Brendan Rogers, the head of Ireland Aid, which has contributed €4.32 million since the emergency of 1999.
Its current yearly spending on aid projects there is €3.2 million.