Thursday 23 June 2011

Foreign Minister Dr. Zacarias da Costa meets His counterpart

   Minister   Zacarias Albano da Costa with 
      his counterpart  Minister Shanmuga 

Minister of  Foreign Affairs, Dr. Zacarias Albano da Costa  was in Singapore on three days working visit and met with his counterpart Dr. K. Shanmuga, and discussed various issues of bilateral, regional and multilateral cooperation including the current issues affecting the international and regional peace and security today. 


During the meeting, Minister da Costa also thank Singapore for its consistent support to Timor-Leste and briefed his counterpart on the overall political and socio-economic development in Timor-Leste and reiterated that over the past three years Timor-Leste has been one of the fastest growing economies in the region.


Since the restoration of Timor-Leste’s independence in 2002, Singapore has never faltered in its efforts to support our national institutional development. Singaporean entrepreneurs have come to Timor-Leste and invested heavily in our dynamic economy because of the excellent business opportunities and the ever-growing number of young Timorese with the required expertise and skills for the construction and infrastructure industries, Information Technology and oil and gas”, Minister da Costa said. 


The Timor-Leste’s Foreign Minister also reiterated the willingness of Timor-Leste to join ASEAN and took the opportunity to explain the road map to full membership, requesting the support of the Singapore Government to endorse Timor-Leste’s application on ASEAN membership. Timor-Leste is tapped with profuse mineral oil and gas, could be an advantage for the integration of ASEAN Community.


Minister da Costa further emphasized that Timor-Leste is an integral part of the South East Asian   region and is determined to contribute positively and meaningfully towards ASEAN Community. He also referred that Timor-Leste has a strong emotional ties and constructive relations with ASEAN member countries. Some Asean countries like Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand have contributed enormously towards Timor-Leste’s nation building and state building process.


During the talks, Minister da Costa also pointed out that Timor-Leste could become a strategic member in reinforcing the connectivity links of ASEAN with the Pacific as well as with the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries, a Community which is present in all the continents.


Minister Shanmugam accepted Timor-Leste’s Foreign Minister invitation to visit Dili at the most appropriate time and reiterated Singapore’s continuous support to the country.


Foreign Minister da Costa was accompanied by Timor-Leste Ambassador to Singapore, Mr. Roberto Soares and the Chief of Staff and Senior Adviser for Political and Diplomatic Affairs to the Foreign Minister, Mr. João Tavares. –END

Saturday 18 June 2011

Minister Zacarias Albano da Costa in a working visit to Australia

H.E. Minister Zacarias Albano da Costa met with the Honorable Barry O’Farell, Premier of New South Wales and H.E. Professor Marie Bashir, Governor of New South Wales on 15 June 2011 as part of his working visit to Australia.


In both meetings, Minister da Costa briefed the two State dignitaries about the latest developments in Timor-Leste including the status of the accession process to ASEAN, the 2012 elections and tourism activities in Timor-Leste. The Minister also discussed the problems of the Timorese community in Australia, especially in New South Wales.



H.E. Minister Zacarias da Costa and H.E. 

ProfessorMarie Bashir, Governor of New South Wales


During the Minister’s meeting with the  Governor of New South Wales, Minister da Costa discussed issues related to youth, education and food security. When invited to visit Timor-Leste, the Governor agreed to look at August as the possible time for such a visit. 



H.E. Minister Zacarias da Costa and 

Honorable Barry O'Farell, 

Premier of New South Wales



The Premier committed to identify a suitable space that can accommodate the Consulate-General’s office, space for theumbrella organization of the Timorese Community. He also agreed to continue supporting Timor-Leste and agreed to visitTimor-Leste with a delegation of business people to look at business opportunities in Timor-Leste at the invitation of Minister Zacarias da Costa at an opportune moment. 


The Minister also met with the Timorese Community in New South Wales and with  the small Timorese community in Canberra when he visited the Embassy in Canberra. As part of the working visit, Minister da Costa will also visit Melbourne and will have meetings with the leaders of the Community in Victoria and the friendship groups in that state.

Thursday 9 June 2011

Timor-Leste’s Delegates attended the 10th IISS ASIA Security Summit - The Shangri-La Dialogue

3-5 - June 2011
The 10th Shangri-La Dialogue was held in Singapore from 3-5 June 2011, brought together 27 countries of the Asia Pacific and Dialogue partners discussing key element of the Asia-Pacific’s regional security architecture and exchange views on regional security challenges

From left – Amb. Roberto Soares, S.E.D, Dr Julio Tomas Pinto,
C.E.M.G. Major General Taur Matan Ruak

Ambassador Roberto Soares said “that the Shangri-La Dialogue provided a distinctive opportunity for Timor-Leste delegates to seek technical cooperation programme, and sharing Timor-Leste’s experiences and values in the process of the nation building and state institutional development that contributing to the peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.

Minister for Defense of Australia, Hon . Stephen Smith,

S.E.D, Dr Julio Tomas Pinto,

C.E.M.G.F.D. Major General Taur Matan Ruak

Both Dr. Julio Tomas Pinto and Major General Taur Matan Ruak seize the opportunity during the dialogue for exchanging views on regional challenges and the most salient defense and security issues, as well as undertaken a constructive bilateral dialogue and consultation with some friendly defense ministers and chief of defense forces and prominent leaders from Singapore, Indonesia, Australia, China, New Zealand and USA.

C.E.M.G. Major General Taur Matan Ruak with

Commander of the United States Pacific

Command Robert F Willard

During the meeting, the Chief of Defense Forcers, Major General Taur Matan Ruak also signed the Defense Technical Cooperation Programme with Admiral Robert F Willard, Commander of the United States Pacific Command.

C.E.M.G.F.D. Major General Taur Matan Ruak with Commander of
the United States Pacific Command Robert F Willa
rd
Ambassador Roberto Soares

Timor-Leste delegation was headed by the Secretary of Sate for Defense, His Excellency Mr. Julio Pinto and Chief of Defense Forces, Major General Taur Matan Ruak, accompanied by Ambassador Roberto Soares and two officials of the F-FDTL, -- END