Agence France Presse

July 30, 2002 Tuesday

Gusmao calls for more funds to rebuild East Timor

BRASILIA, July 29

President of East Timor Xanana Gusmao called Monday for the international community to provide more funds for the reconstruction of his newly independent nation.

Following a meeting with his Brazilian counterpart Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Gusmao told journalists that the 340 million dollars donated by the United Nations was not enough.

The freedom fighter turned president is in Brazil to take part in the fourth summit of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries, and he called for its members -- Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal and Sao Tome and Principe -- to help rebuild East Timor.

During his visit Gusmao, on his first foreign trip since assuming the presidency of East Timor in May, will be decorated with the Order of the Southern Cross -- the highest honour Brazil may confer on a foreigner.

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