East Timor strengthening ties with Indonesia

East Timor's Foreign Minister, Jose Ramos-Horta, said that despite past conflicts with Indonesia, East Timor is working hard to strengthen its ties with its neighbor. They are opening an embassy in Jakarta and aiming for a strong relationship. The people of East Timor are positive about improving relations with Indonesia. East Timor will become independent on May 20 after a long struggle with Indonesia, which invaded the country in 1975. East Timor also plans to build closer relationships with other Asian countries, Australia, and New Zealand. They hope to join the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the future. In history, on this date: - In 526, a massive earthquake in Syria and Antioch killed up to 300,000 people. - In 1873, Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis patented blue jeans with copper rivets. - In 1927, Charles Lindbergh flew from New York to Paris in his plane, "The Spirit of St. Louis." - In 1940, German forces broke through Allied lines in Abbeville, France, leading to the evacuation of Dunkirk. - In 1969, U.S. troops captured Dong Ap Bia mountain, known as Hamburger Hill, during the Vietnam War. - In 1974, Judge John Sirica ordered U.S. President Richard Nixon to hand over tapes related to the Watergate scandal. - In 1989, Chinese Premier Li Peng declared martial law in Beijing due to student protests in Tiananmen Square. - In 1995, President Bill Clinton closed Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House permanently. - In 2002, East Timor gained independence from Indonesia and is now known as Timor Leste.