THE FOREIGN MINISTER AND TRADE OF NEW ZEALAND ENDS HIS VISIT IN TIMOR-LESTE

Dili, 3 February 2004
Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Dr. Olimpio Branco, said today that the Honorable Phil Goff, the New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade and his delegations has visited Oecusse district, and the Balibo Memorial house, where one New Zealand and four Australian journalists were killed by Indonesian forces in 1975.

“This morning the Honorable Phil Goff, have meeting with me and we have discussed about the bilateral cooperation that New Zealand and Timor-Leste has done so far. Mr. Goff also inform about the New Zealand has giving another $200,000 to East Timor to help its truth commission hear up to 100 more cases of human rights violations. Besides $ 200.000, New Zealand also gives a half million to the government budget”, Said Acting Minister, Dr. Olimpio Bronco.

“New Zealand will continue to support Timor-Leste in the areas of education, serious crime as well as the technical and financial supports and capacity building of human resources. The New Zealand gives the supports to Timor-Leste not only in the areas that I mentioned above but also in the area of diplomatic; to strengthen our activities in the organization such as in international institutions, multilateral in UN board and also to be a member of ARF as well as ASEAN”, added Dr. Olimpio Bronco.

We think that the New Zealand support to Timor-Leste is very positive. Its show their continuing commitment to consolidate our situation, peace and stability and to establish democratic country as well as economic development.

The Hon. Phil Goff has met with 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, and H.E. Dr. Mari Bin Amudi Alkatiri, the Prime Minister of DRTL.