The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Andrews, has told the East Timor resistance leader, Mr Xanana Gusmao, that Ireland intends to open an aid office in Dili, the capital of the former Portuguese colony, to help with reconstruction, a spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs said yesterday.
Mr Andrews met Mr Gusmao during the handover ceremonies marking Macau's return to China, which was attended by dignitaries from all over the world.
Mr Gusmao embraced the Minister, who had visited him twice when he was under house arrest in Jakarta earlier this year, and invited him to come to East Timor. Mr Andrews replied that he would come when Mr Gusmao was president.
The Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin yesterday said it would be sending a programme officer to manage the funds being sent to East Timor.
"£1 million has already been given and there will be significantly more," the spokesman said. "The money will be for reconstruction, institutional rehabilitation and institutional building.".
The UN has taken control of the half-island nation until it can organise elections for a new government in the next two years. The country was laid waste by pro-Indonesian militias and Indonesian soldiers before Indonesia withdrew in September after a 25-year occupation.
An assessment team from the Department of Foreign Affairs has visited East Timor and more aid funds would be assigned for reconstruction, the spokesman said.
Mr Gusmao came directly to Macau from a UN donor conference in Tokyo at which $522 million was pledged for East Timor. Of this, $373 million was earmarked for reconstruction, development and civil administration. Another $149 million will go towards humanitarian assistance.
Mr Gusmao, president of the National Council for Timorese Resistance, said that implementing the reconstruction programme would require a "true partnership" with the international community and emphasised the need to train East Timorese at all levels.