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East Timor won't back separatists

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  The Age (theage.com.au) in April 26, 2002 at 10.00am published the following breaking news Jose Ramos Horta East Timorese Foreign Minister Jose Ramos Horta has ruled out any backing for separatist movements within Indonesia once the country achieves its independence next month.  Mr Ramos Horta said freedom fighters in regions including West Papua and Aceh could expect no support or sanctuary from Timorese leaders, who fought for 24 years to win their own struggle against Jakarta's rule. "We can assure our Indonesian neighbours, brothers and sisters, that East Timor is not going to be a haven for anyone in Indonesia who wishes to dismember the Republic of Indonesia," he said.  "Our first obligation is our national borders, our national interest, our national security and we have to respect our neighbour. Indonesia is facing enormous challenges within and without and East Timor will be the last piece of real estate in the world that would be offered to anyone to agg

Ramos Horta: no support for West Papuan 'secession'

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21 years ago, a prominent leader from East Timor now Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, Ramos Horta gave a very clear statement as quoted in New Zealand's media. Wednesday, June 20, 2001 - 10:00  WELLINGTON — East Timorese leader Jose Ramos Horta, currently cabinet member for foreign affairs, told Radio New Zealand International on June 7 that his country cannot support West Papua's demand for independence from Indonesia. Horta said East Timor cannot support every secession claim in the region. Jose Ramos Horta