THE HONORABLE PHIL GOFF THE FOREIGN MINISTER AND TRADE OF NEW ZEALAND VISITS TIMOR-LESTE

Dili, 30 January 2004
Acting Minister for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Dr. Olimpio Branco, will be welcoming the Honorable Phil Goff, the New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade and his delegations on 31st January 2004.

Mr. Goff's last trip to Timor-Leste was for independence celebration in May 2002. Mr. Phil Goff and his delegation will be staying in Timor-Leste for three days.

During the three days visit in Timor-Leste the Hon. Phil Goff, will pay courtesy call to H.E. Mr. Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, the President of the RDTL, H.E. Mr. Francisco Guterres, Luo-lo, the President of the National Parliament of Timor-Leste, H.E. Dr. Mari Bin Amudi Alkatiri, the Prime Minister of DRTL, and H.E. Dr. Olimpio Branco, Acting Minister of MFAC.

This visit will include a trip to the district of Oecusse, the scene of some of the worst bloodshed in the lead-up to independence, and a visit to the town of Balibo where one New Zealand and four Australian journalists were killed by Indonesian forces in 1975.

“The Hon. Golf chose Timor-Leste for his working visit before the Bali Regional Ministerial meeting on counter-terrorism and it shows New Zealand’s commitment to support Timor-Leste for the crucial phase of the economy and social development“said Dr. Olimpio Branco.

“Timor-Leste and New Zealand enjoy bilateral relations on mutual interest. The Government of New Zealand has assisted Timor-Leste in the areas of development of education/human resource development, police training and judicial oriented course and community development. New Zealand has made an important contribution to the security in the border region since 1999, added Dr Olimpio Branco.

The Honorable Phil Goff and his delegations will depart from Timor-Leste on 3rd of February 2004.