EAST TIMOR: It was a diplomatic coup for the foreign minister of the new country. At a critical moment before East Timor became independent, Dr Jose Ramos-Horta saw off a small armada of Indonesian warships, intended to protect President Megawati Sukarnoputri, using firm diplomacy and humour.
The minister of this Lilliputian state said: "Some military people - not all - enjoy showing off their new toys . . . Maybe they thought it was a great exercise to impress also the Americans because there is going to be an American warship there, also a French one.
"The only thing I asked is don't collide with each other because there will be so many warships offshore - and be extra careful with our two little patrol boats that the Portuguese so graciously gave us. We are very proud of them," the minister of the former Portuguese colony said.
Instead of sending one warship with security equipment to the independence celebrations, as agreed, the Indonesian navy apparently took it on itself to send six vessels.
Dr Ramos-Horta resolved the new country's first diplomatic stand-off by getting four of them to withdrew from Timorese territorial waters after tense negotiations with senior officials who arrived on one of the ships.
One ship had been allowed to dock overnight last Friday at Dili, almost in front of what is today the National Assembly and government building, but its unannounced arrival caused alarm and drew a sizeable crowd which stood reliving strong memories of Indonesia's 24-year occupation. People stared at it through a high iron fence until it left the next afternoon.
Dr Ramos-Horta said the Indonesian navy had misunderstood an agreement to send one medical support ship with equipment for the Megawati visit.
"Maybe they thought they could send the whole navy," Dr Ramos-Horta told a hastily called press conference. The diplomatic incident had threatened to spoil the birth of the new country.
Dr Ramos-Horta's strong message was that his government had worked hard to ensure the visit went smoothly and assured the Indonesians that President Megawati, whose "political courage" he praised, would receive "a warm welcome".
East Timor has gone to enormous lengths to smooth what the minister said would be a "bumpy road" ahead with its old persecutor. At Sunday night's celebrations, the people showed they have taken the leadership's lead by applauding Ms Megawati three times.
The incident was due to "poor judgment" by the Indonesian navy, Dr Ramos-Horta said. Remarkably, he also believed that Indonesia's foreign ministry had been unaware of the decision to send so many ships.
A maximum of 15 concealed weapons could be carried by Ms Megawati's 85 security people, it had been agreed previously. But the Indonesians had come with 147 weapons. "That's fine. It's their boat but only 15 are allowed ashore," said the minister.
Dr Ramos-Horta said those on board had been offered a meal on shore because "they must have been travelling in cramped conditions for days" - but if they came ashore it must be "without weapons".
He added: "We Timorese are hospitable people."
Meanwhile, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Mr Ruud Lubbers, has given the remaining 50,000-plus East Timorese refugees in Indonesian West Timor six months after independence to return. After that time they would not be considered refugees.
President Xanana Gusmao praised the "wonderful work" of the UNHCR. He said he agreed to the commission's time-frame. "They must decide whether to stay or go. We will open all doors."