The international conference of aid donors to East Timor is scheduled on ______.

Former rival East Timorese groups met in Tokyo Wednesday to discuss the reconstruction of the former Indonesian territory. Caren Hanadael reports from the Japanese capital that the meeting comes just ahead of Friday’s international conference of aid donors to East Timor.
     Wednesday’s meeting was an opportunity for leaders of East Timorese groups and development experts to discuss World Bank proposals to rebuild the ravaged territory. Humanitarian issues headed the agenda. Providing basic needs such as food, medicine and shelter are still major concerns. Developing a system of government and rebuilding the economy were also urgent issues. Observers in Tokyo expressed hope that Wednesday’s meeting was a sign that the many factions in East Timor will begin to dissolve and new groups with a common goal of rebuilding the territory will emerge. The World Bank estimates the cost of reconstruction in East Timor will be between 260 and 300 million dollars over the next 3 years. Donor countries including Japan, Australia and the United States will meet here on Friday under World Bank auspices to pledge contributions to meet those needs. Caren Hamadael, for VOA News, in Tokyo.