Timor-Leste was invaded just nine days after declaring independence. Years later, the country gets its "reward".
Francis is due to arrive Monday in one of the world's poorest countries of 1.3 million people, also known as Timor-Leste, following visits to Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. Banners and billboards have filled the streets of the seaside capital, Dili, to welcome the pontiff.
The World Bank in its semi-annual report in February praised Timor-Leste as a peaceful, democratic nation. For more than 10 years, free and fair elections have been held despite tensions between the two largest parties that have occasionally erupted into violence.The Timorese first declared their independence from Portugal, the colonial ruler, on November 28, 1975, but that move was crushed nine days later when neighbouring Indonesia invaded.
An international force led by Australia intervened to restore security. After a period of direct UN governance, Timor-Leste finally became an independent state on May 20, 2002. Out of necessity, Sakane said, the country was run by leaders and organisations who lacked experience in key areas, including coordination between competing political parties and control of ex-combatants and weapons from the struggle for independence.
As an ASEAN member, the island nation would have to attend meetings, host summits, and contribute $US2.5 million per year to the group's budget.
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