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xiii It is a great pleasure to thank the many people and institutions who have contributed to this volume, and to the Dili Economic Forum on which it is based. We began to plan this exercise seriously at a conference on East Timor in Washington DC in August 2000. The basic rationale then was that East Timor was moving swiftly towards independence, that there was likely to be plenty of international goodwill and support, and that what was critically important was the development of a coherent set of development policies to guide the new nation forward. We therefore began to identify what we considered to be the key development policy challenges, and to invite a group of leading thinkers and practitioners to set out the policy options and issues under each topic. We wanted to cast the net widely, examining not just ‘mainstream’ economic issues but the political and legal framework, social policy and the special challenge of relations with Indonesia. Moreover, we thought it highly relevant for East Timor, as a latecomer, to absorb the lessons from other countries and regions. We began talking to potential donors and contributors shortly thereafter. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) expressed interest in our proposal and quickly provided the necessary support. We are most grateful to the ADB for its funding and flexibility, and for giving us a completely free hand in organization and implementation. In particular, Etienne van de Walle was with us all the way in this endeavour, sharing our vision and providing unswerving support. We also wish to single out the head of the ADB’s East Timor mission, Robin Boumphrey who, despite many onerous duties, provided staunch support throughout. Although this enterprise is funded by the ADB, it will be obvious that it does not necessarily share or endorse any of the views expressed in the volume. Our authors made this volume what it is. We wish to thank them all for their participation. They are all busy people. They were contacted at very short notice Acknowledgments East Timor/final 29/7/01 6:19 PM Page xiii – many as they were about to take their summer vacation! – and given an exceptionally tight deadline. They all prepared high-quality, thoughtful and policy-relevant pieces for the Dili Forum, and they all revised their papers promptly for the book. The majority of contributors had not been to East Timor before, but all had extensive knowledge of the region and shared a commitment to wanting to help the new nation. Planning for the Forum, held in Dili on 26–28 March 2001, was a major logistical challenge. We thought initially of holding it nearby, in Darwin, which would have been easier. But this would have lacked the immediate local impact. In addition we thought that the Forum could be an exercise in institution building , to show the world what East Timor could do in difficult circumstances. The East Timor Study Group assumed responsibility for organizing the Forum, and we wish to place on record our debt to the many individuals who, in very difficult circumstances, together made the Forum a great success. The core planning was in the hands of Helder da Costa, Francisco da Costa Guterres and Francisco da Costa Soares – all members of the East Timor Study Group. Their commitment, efficient organization and generous hospitality made all the difference, and we appreciate very much their good work. Two other members of the East Timor Study Group, Edmundo Viegas and João Cancio Freitas, were also instrumental in organizing the Forum. We spent much time working over the plan for the Forum and the volume with Helder da Costa and Jay Rosengard, whose wise counsel was always invaluable. We feel greatly honoured that several distinguished Timorese supported the Forum, and took time out from busy schedules to address the gathering. These include Xanana Gusmao, Bishop Carlos Ximenes Belo and José Ramos Horta, whose speeches to the Forum are reproduced in modified form as prefaces to this volume. In addition, Bishop Basilio do Nacimento, Minister Mari Alkatiri, Mrs Maria Federer and Mr Mariano Lopes da Cruz all addressed the Forum at some stage, and contributed much with their insights. We also wish to thank the many Timorese and others who chaired sessions and acted as commentators. These include José Abel, Rui Maria Araujo, Benjamin Corte Real, Manuel Countinho, Jan van Houten, Felipe Mesquita, Domingos Sousa, José Teixeira and Sofia Borges. Our appreciation goes to the National Council of Timorese Resistance (CNRT...

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