TAMPAKSIRING, Indonesia (AFP) - Indonesia and East Timor are ready to forget their bloody separation and press on with "friendly" ties, officials said after a meeting of the two countries' presidents.The informal talks, the first between new Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and East Timor's Xanana Gusmao, on the resort island of Bali also brought the two sides closer to resolving a lingering border dispute.

Speaking after the meeting in Tampaksiring, north of the Balinese capital Denpasar, Indonesian Foreign Minister Hasan Wirayuda said the two leaders expressed a desire to deepen bonds between Jakarta and its former province.

"This was a meeting to strengthen friendships between leaders and review the relations between both countries from the last three years," Wirayuda told reporters.

East Timor separated from Jakarta following a 1999 independence vote marred by violence carried out by the Indonesian military and its militia allies in which more than 1,400 people were killed. The country gained statehood in 2002.

Wirayuda said the two leaders had briefly discussed the issue of human rights abuses perpetrated by the military, but said the matter had already been dealt with by an Indonesian court.

A tribunal set up to try figures allegedly involved in the 1999 violence has been heavily criticised by the international community and rights groups for failing to place any senior military or officials behind bars.

East Timor has largely remained silent on the tribunal's outcome, saying it preferred to concentrate on the future.

Wirayuda said the two sides had come close to resolving a dispute over the border separating the half-island nation with the Indonesian province of West Timor, saying they had agreed to 90 percent of the frontier.

He said officials from both countries would meet in the near future to finalise the issue.

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