17-09-2002 12:52:00 GMT Invalid Hora local. Notícia 4115046

East Timor: Lisbon agrees to share three foreign embassies

Lisbon has agreed to allow Dili to use space in three Portuguese overseas missions and East Timor will now have the use of embassy facilities at the United Nations in New York when it becomes the world`s 191st member next week.

Portuguese Foreign Minister Antonio Martins da Cruz handed over keys Monday to Timorese diplomats in New York, who will soon work in the same office building as their Portuguese colleagues.

Martins da Cruz explained that the Timorese government had requested to share three Portuguese embassies: Brussels, Canberra and at the UN in new York. Dili had severe financial constraints currently, Martins da Cruz said, and rents were high in the three cities concerned.

Portugal had granted Timor the use of facilities in the three cities "with great pleasure", Lisbon`s foreign minister said, on handing over the keys to the New York mission.

In reply, Timorese Foreign Minister Jose Ramos Horta expressed his thanks for "this gesture of friendship from the Portuguese people and government".

CJB/ST -Lusa-

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