New Zealand will support Timor-Leste adhesion to ASEAN

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr Zacarias da Costa with

N.Z. Foreign Minister Hon. Murray McCully

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade of New Zealand Hon. Murray McCully stated during the billateral talk with his Timorese counter part Mr. Zacarias Albano da Costa today, in Wellington, that New Zealand will fully support the preparation of Timor – Leste assession to ASEAN. This support would be translated mainly in technical assistance and human resources development as some of the keys elements identified for assession to that regional organisation.

This statement was a response to the briefing by Minister da Costa on the preparation of Timor-Leste assession to ASEAN.

During the bilateral talks both Ministers discussed other areas of potential cooperation such as defence , security, agriculture, education.

Minister da Costa is in New Zealand for a four days official visit, where he also met with the Defence Minister, Hon. Dr. Wayne Mapp, Minister for Police, Madame Judith Collins among other New Zealand officials. He also witnessed today the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the two countries on NZ Volunteer Service Abroad work in Timor-Leste. END

Minister Zacarias da Costa met with the Ambassador Amira Aron

Minister Zacarias da Costa and
the Ambassador of Israel to Timor-Leste
Ms Amira Aron

H.E. the Ambassador of Israel to Timor-Leste, Ms Amira Aron, paid a courtesy visit on the 05 of May 2010 to H.E. the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Zacarias Albano da Costa

Ms Aron, who is resident in Singapore, made the visit to coincide with the celebration of Israel's National Day.

Minister Zacarias welcomed Ambassador Aron and congratulated her on Israel’s National day. “Let me start by congratulating you on your National Day and thank you for all the efforts your country is making to support Timor-Leste’s development,” he said.

Minister Zacarias da Costa with Senior staff members

during the meeting with Ambassador Aron

The main issues discussed during the meetings between the two covered areas of cooperation between Timor-Leste and Israel such as Security and defense, naval intelligence and cooperation with other countries.

"Israel will be very pleased to provide support for Timor-Leste in the areas of training for diplomatic staff and agriculture. Israel is committed to working together with Timor-Leste," Ambassador Aron said.

“Another main point discussed was the establishment of a Framework Agreement between the two countries to promote technical and economic cooperation in relevant areas identified as priorities,” Minister Zacarias da Costa concluded

Speech by H.E. The Minister of Foreign Affairs during the International Seminar on " Impact of Corruption on National Development of Timor-Leste"

H.E. The Minister of Foreign Affairs
Dr. Zacarias da Costa

Sua Excelência Senhor Presidente interino do Parlamento Nacional, Dr Vicente Guterres

Sua Excelência Senhor Presidente do Tribunal de Recursos, Dr Claudio Ximenes

Sua Excelência Senhora Procuradora Geral, Dra Ana Pessoa Pinto

Sua Excelência Senhor Presidente da Comissão C do Parlamento Nacional, Dr. Manuel Tilman

Distintos Deputados do Parlamento Nacional

Excelências, colegas membros do governo,

Excelências Senhores Embaixadores

Exmo Senhor Provedor dos D.H.CJ

Exmo Senhor Inspector Geral

Exmo senhores representantes das Agencias, Fundos e Programas das Nações Unidas

Magnífico Reitor da UNTL

Senhores convidados

Senhoras e Senhores

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is very happy and indeed proud to host this illustrious International Conference on Anti-Corruption.

I welcome you all to this debate on a topic that is of the utmost importance to the development of our society, and let me congratulate the Commission C for organizing this important conference.

Tackling corruption is a priority for the 4^th Constitutional government. This criminal practice not only deprives our citizens of badly needed resources that belong to all, but is also a form of injustice benefiting the very few to the detriment of most.

Corruption tends to form tentacles of influence that undermine the authority and credibility of the State, weakening its effectiveness and undermining the trust of citizens in public institutions.

As a signal of our commitment to eradicating this type of criminality, the National Parliament has already ratified the United Nations Convention on anti-Corruption and has sworn in the new Commissioner of the independent Anti-Corruption Commission.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also preparing Agreements with neighboring countries on mutual judicial assistance in penal matters in order to facilitate cooperation between different Courts of Law and also cooperation agreements with Australia, Indonesia, Singapore and Hong-Kong on money laundering. The Ministry is also ready to submit, for the approval of the Council of Ministers, a Draft Law on International Judicial Cooperation on Penal Matters, which later will sent to the National Parliament.

The aim of this Law is threefold: To allow the penal courts of Timor-Leste to cooperate with courts of other countries; to promote cooperation with the International Criminal Court - ICC, in The Hague; and finally to implement the conventions ratified by the Members of the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries, promoting judicial cooperation.

The Government has also adopted a police on prevention of corruption which has been coordinate by the office of Vice Prime Minister Mario Carrascalao. I’m please to say that there will be a presentation on this matter from the office of the Vice Prime Minister Mario Carrascalao, and you will have the opportunity of been informed about the extent of this policy

These legal instruments will help our courts not only in the fight against corruption in Timor-Leste, but also in the fight against several types of transnational crimes, including money laundering and human trafficking.

Much remains to be done in the area of prevention activities in educating our society on the perils of corruption and the injustice of illegal income distribution.

It is therefore a matter of the utmost importance that we embrace, with a sense of urgency and determination, the eradication of corruption and transnational crime. I wish you well in your endeavors and welcome you all, once again, to this conference.

Obrigado

H.E. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Zacarias da Costa, was distinguished with University Medal of Honor by AUF

His Excellency Minister of Foreign Affairs,Dr. Zacarias Albano Da Costa,
on the occasion of receiving the distinguished
University Medal of Honor
In Angeles University Foundation(AUF)- Philippines

ACCEPTANCE SPEECH

Angeles City, March 19, 2010

Hon. Chairman of Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Dr. Emmanuel Y. ANGELES,

Hon. President of AUF, Atty. Joseph Emmanuel L. ANGELES,

Angeles University Foundation Officials and Faculty,

AUF Management Committee,

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am deeply honored to accept the DISTINGUISHED UNIVERSITY MEDAL OF HONOR, and I do so with sincere gratitude. It is humbling, indeed, to stand in this capacity before you who have contributed so much to Timor-Leste in receiving our students at this prestigious University. I am also grateful for the AUF Management Committee for their unanimous decision to confer upon me this such great medal which pave the way to me to be part of AUF family.

Timor-Leste and Philippine share common values of freedom, democracy, social justice and culture. Historically both countries have culture ties of Iberian and Roman Catholic. Even both countries are predominantly Roman Catholic country in Asia.

By sharing similar values, both countries steadily enhance and strengthen relationship. In recent memory, the people of the Philippines have shown their solidarity to the people of Timor-Leste in humanitarian supports through the government since 1999 until today. And currently Philippine supports the effort of Timor-Leste to be member of ASEAN.

Through this special relationship, Timor-Leste and the Philippines have formulated cooperation in several areas. In Marine and Fishery, Diplomatic Service as well as in Academic Cooperation.

As part of the implementation of the agreement, we have sent 109 scholars to study in the Philippines and in fact, 36 of them chose to study in this University. And the government of Timor-Leste is looking forward to increase the number in the future.

I wish to extend my gratitude to the members of the AUF Management Committee who has chosen me for this nomination of the medal of honour. Your gesture reveals, first and foremost, the recognition of the effort to strengthen the cooperation between our two Countries and the two Peoples.

Allow me to address a special word to our Timorese Friends, Hon. Chairman of CHED Dr Emanuel Angeles and Hon. President of Angeles University Foundation, the persons who invite me for being here today with you. My heartfelt gratitude for the sensitivity and in-depth understanding you have always shown towards our Timorese students who need your guidance to succeed their study.

Thank you very much.

H.E. The Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Zacarias Albano da Costa was distinguished by the Angeles University Foundation

On March the 19, H.E. The Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Zacarias Albano da Costa was distinguished in Philippines by the Angeles University Foundation with the University Medal of Honor.

H.E. The Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Zacarias Albano da Costa

Following is the citation :

CITATION

In recognition of his courage and deep sense of nationalism exemplified by his active involvement in the National Council of Timorese Resistance( CNRT)Political Committee that led to the liberation of Timor-Leste from foreign occupation in 1999, and in commendation of his staunch advocacy of freedom and democracy when he served as Timor-Leste’s Permanent Representative to the European Union and International Organizations in Geneva from 1985 to 2000;and as Vice President and Head of the International Relations Department of the Timorese Democratic Union from 1993 -2000;

In praise of his unwavering efforts geared towards nurturing a culture of peace and in promoting international development having served as Inter-Agency Coordinator and Project Administration and Implementation specialist at the Asian Development Bank, and as Advisor on Private Sector Development Projects at the United National Agency for International Development ( USAID);

In sincere acknowledgment of his active participation in community development and poverty alleviation efforts in his capacity as National Vice President of the Timor-Leste Red Cross, and for his heavy involvement in non-governmental organizations, cultural and sports association, and for being part of the UNESCO National Commission of Timor-Leste; and in grateful appreciation of his commitment and resolve to strengthen diplomatic relation between Timor-Leste and Philippines which testament his passion to promote peace and harmony in the Asian regional;

Angeles University Foundation is pleased to confer the

Distinguished University

Medal of Honor

Upon

H.E. Zacarias A. da Costa

Minister of Foreign Affairs

Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste

This 19 days of March,

2010 in Angeles City ,

Philippines

Ministro dos Negócios Estrangeiros sauda a nomeação de Don Norberto Amaral como bispo da Diocese de Maliana

Timor-Leste, conta, a partir de agora, com uma terceira diocese: Maliana.

Trata-se de uma nova unidade territorial resultante da divisão da diocese de Díli.

O Padre Norberto do Amaral, actual Chanceler da diocese de Díli, foi nomeado pelo Santo Padre como primeiro Bispo de Maliana.

O Ministro dos Negócios Estrangeiros Dr. Zacarias Albano da Costa acolheu com alegria esta noticia e enviou uma carta de felicitação ao novo Bispo :

" Na qualidade de Ministro dos Negócios Estrangeiros, é com imensa satisfação que tenho o privilégio de saudar Sua Excelência Reverendíssima pela recente nomeação para Bispo titular da nova Diocese de Maliana.

Este acontecimento, longamente ansiado pelos timorenses em geral, pelo Estado Timorense e pela Igreja Católica de Timor-Leste em particular, é assinalável a todos os níveis e virá redesenhar a geografia religiosa, social e diplomática deste país que na sua esmagadora maioria acredita no papel congregador da Igreja Católica e na sua capacidade de se actualizar e acompanhar a história e a realidade de Timor-Leste, cuja relevância está claramente expressa até na nossa Constituição.

A fé, a autenticidade e o respeito profundo pelo nosso povo e cultura, têm marcado o percurso de Sua Excelência Reverendíssima já desde os tempos de Sacerdote. Esta nova missão que o aguarda não é fácil porque concentra as esperanças e os anseios não só dos cristãos mas de todos os cidadãos deste novo País. Estou confiante que Sua Excelência Reverendíssima terá o apoio e o carinho de todos para o maior sucesso no exercício deste mandato sublime.

Não quero terminar sem saudar toda a Igreja timorense, os seus familiares e amigos, os cristãos de Maliana e, de um modo especial, os seus colegas Bispos de Díli e de Baucau. Tenho-os a todos na minha maior estima e consideração pessoais.

Peço a Sua Excelência Reverendíssima, meu bom amigo Dom Norberto, que aceite os protestos da minha mais elevada consideração."

2009 - chronology of events

III Rome - 16 January 2009

Minister Zacarias da Costa and the delegation
with Most Reverend Dominique Mambert

On January 16th, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the delegation went to Rome for a one day working visit. Minster Zacarias Albano da Costa accompany by Ambassador Justino Guterres and the National Director for External Affairs Constancio Pinto met with the Most Reverend DominiqueMamberti, the Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Vatican, which has been scheduled for January 17^th, 2009 in the third loggia of the Apostolic Palace.

From left : Most Reverend DominiqueMamberti,

Ambassador Justino Guterres and

Minister Zacarias da Costal

In this meeting, the Minister for Foreign Affairs hand-delivered the draft Concordata to Archbishop Mamberti

Minister Zacarias da Costa with

Most Reverend DominiqueMamberti

The Minister also took the opportunity to reiterate the invitation of H.E. President of the Republic of Timor-Leste to His Holiness Pope Benedict VI to visit Timor-Leste.

Most Reverend DominiqueMamberti ,
Minister Zacarias da Costa and
National Director for External Affairs Constancio Pinto

As part of the preparation for papal visit to Timor-Leste, the Minister invited Archbishop Mamberti to visit Timor-Leste for further consultation. The Minister also expressed the desire of Timor-Leste to establish the third diocese in Suai because of the rapid population growth and economic revitalization in that district. Further the minister also highlighted the importance of having a "perfetoria" in the enclave of Oe-Cusse.

Timorese Community in Rome

In Rome, the Minister and the delegation members also had the opportunity to meet with Timorese living and studying in Rome, the majority of whom are nuns and priests