Tuesday 19 July 2011

Minister for Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Dr. Zacarias Albano da Costa attended the Opening Ceremony of the 44th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Bali,


Minister da Costa led the Timor-Leste’s delegation to the 44th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM), the Post Ministerial Conferences (PMCs), and the 18th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) including the Southwest pacific Dialogue in Bali, Indonesia from 18 to 23 July 2011.

Timor-Leste Delegates will seize the opportunity to continue to reiterate its readiness to join ASEAN and willing to contribute with its views and perspectives pertaining to the on-going progress of ASEAN's community-building and economic integration process.

Minister da Costa and Timor-Leste delegates will also participate in the ASEAN Regional Forum as well as the Southwest Pacific Dialogue forum from 21-23 July 2011 to discuss issues of mutual concern and mechanisms to strengthen regional cooperation for partnerships and developments in the region.

Minister da Costa will also take the opportunity to conduct bilateral meetings with his counterparts from some of the ASEAN countries, ASEAN Dialogue Partners and ARF members at the sidelines of the meetings.

Minister da Costa is accompanied by his spouse Sra Milena Pires, Timor-Leste’s ARF SOM Leader, Mr. Marciano da Silva, Director General for External Affairs, Ambassador Juvencio Martins, Ambassador Manuel Serrano, Ambassador Roberto Soares, Director for ASEAN Affairs, Ms. Dirce Carolina, Chief of Staff, Mr. Joao Tavares, Consul General, Mrs. Olandina Caero, Foreign Minister’s Security Adviser, Ms. Sonia Leite, and Media Adviser, Mrs. Maria Gabriela Carrascalão.