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Recent elections in East Timor have dominated talks between Prime Minister Helen Clark and her Portuguese counterpart Jose Socrates.
Miss Clark held talks with Mr Socrates overnight ahead of a trip to Spain to visit New Zealand's America's Cup team and promote business and trade links.
Portugal, along with New Zealand and Australia, is part of a United Nations-mandated peacekeeping force in East Timor, a former Portuguese colony.
Miss Clark today said Portugal, which had more than 300 personnel in East Timor, remained committed to the country as long as foreign support was necessary and welcome.
"Like us they want to see continuing international involvement," she said.
But the presence of the foreign force could hinge on the outcome of the presidential election and upcoming elections to determine the Government.
It was possible a future leader or Government might revoke the peacekeeping force's invitation to be in the country.
"We can't take that for granted and I think there is a lot of water to go under the bridge in Timor."
She said the issue of East Timor was followed incredibly closely in Portugal.
- NZPA
