Antara (Indonesia)

January 31, 2009 Saturday

TIMOR LESTE PROPOSES SPORTS COOPERATION WITH E NUSA TENGGARA

Kupang, E Nusa Tenggara Jan 31

The Timor Leste government has proposed cooperation in sports with East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) province, a Timor Leste representative here said.

The cooperation would be in the form of annual competitions in the two countries border regions, said Timor Leste Consul General in Kupang, Caetano De Sousa Guterres, here on Saturday.

A Timor Leste government delegation had met with NTT education, youth and sports officials to discuss the planned cooperation, he said.

"At this moment sport branches such as taekwondo, athletics, boxing and football are developing in Timor Leste," Guterres said.

Sports had become a most effective way to maintain close relations with Indonesia, he added.

Timor Leste chose NTT province for bilateral activities with Indonesia because NTT people had cultural similarities with Timor Leste people, said Guterres.

In 2008, a Timor Leste team participated in a horse riding competition in NTT at an invitation from the West Sumba regional government.

The close relations with West Sumba could be expanded to other regions, Guterres said.