Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Timor-Leste: Index Page(English)

TIMOR-LESTE’S AMBASSADOR TO E.U. PRESENTS CREDENTIAL

On January 12, 2004, at 12.15 pm, Mr. Jose Antonio Amorim Dias, the Ambassador-designate of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste to E.U. presented the letter of credentials to H.E. Dr.Romano Prodi, the President of the European Commission. Mr. Amorim becomes then the first Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Head of the Mission of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste to the European Communities.

Despite of the President's heavy agenda on that day the ceremony lasted for half and an hour. This is due to the interest shown by President Prodi towards the situation of Timor-Leste.

After the presentation of the credentials, "I was invited for an open and cordial conversation", Mr. Amorim said. President Prodi has a very good knowledge of the situation of Timor-Leste. He raised several interesting questions ranging from security, stability, natural resources and up to the prospects of economic development for the country. I gave an overall view of the situation. At the end of the conversation, President Prodi left this important message: "Ambassador, if you need anything do not hesitate to contact us."

“This meeting represents an historic event for the country and the people of Timor-Leste. It only reinforces the outstanding relationship we have had during the last three years with the European Commission. On the other hand, it shows the continuing commitment of the Commission towards the sustainable development of Timor-Leste " said Ambassador Amorim.

H.E. Jose Amorim was born in Lospalos, Timor-Leste. He studied Philosophy at the Jesuit's School of Philosophy-Driyarkara in Jakarta, Indonesia, in 1987. His study was interrupted in 1991, when he and other Timorese students were arrested and taken into prison in Jakarta, Indonesia.

After his release, in 1992, he moved to Europe to organize international campaign for the freedom of his country and was appointed as the Representative of the National Council of MAUBERE Resistance (Conselho Nacional da Resistancia Maubere) to the European Community. Since then, under the coordination of Dr. Ramos-Horta, he and other colleagues incessantly testified the situation to the UN Sub-Commission on the Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities and to the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva, the UN Conference on Human Rights in Vienna, the UN Special Committee on Decolonization in New York, the European Parliament Sub-Committee on Human Rights in Brussels, and also in other international fore.

While residing in the Hague, the Netherlands, he pursued further studies where he successfully completed a Diplomacy Training Program at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia in 1993, and including two post-graduate studies of Diploma Program in International Relations and International Law at the Institute of Social Studies (ISS) in 1995 and 1996, in the Hague, the Netherlands.

To develop and strengthen skills in Diplomacy, Negotiation, Management and the Administration, from 1996 to 1998, he worked for the UNPO, the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization based in the Hague, the Netherlands. He served in different capacities within the organization and including as the Director of the Steering Committee.

From 1999 to 2000, he was appointed as the Deputy Representative of the National Council of Timorese Resistance to the European Union based in Brussels, Belgium. Then, in September 2000, he moved to London-UK, to complete his Masters course on International Studies and Diplomacy at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS).

Ambassador Amorim formally joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste in June 2001. After the celebration of Independence of Timor-Leste on May 20, 2002, he was appointed as the Charge’d Affairs of the Permanent Mission of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste to the European Union and started with the activities in October 2002. Then, in May 2003, he was nominated by the President and the Government to be the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste to the Kingdom of Belgium, the European Union, the UNESCO, and to the United Nation and Other International Organizations based in Europe . Since October 3, 2003, H.E. Jose Amorim has been the Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste to UNESCO.