PRESIDENT GUSMÃO TO VISIT PORTUGAL AND SOUTH AFRICA

Dili, 16 April 2004
H. E. President Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão departs tomorrow morning for visits to Portugal and South Africa.

In Portugal, President Gusmão will attend the Biennial CPLP (Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries) Congress on the Portuguese Language to be held in Viseu from 19th 21st April. From Viseu, the President will travel to the capital, Lisbon, where at the invitation of the Portuguese President, H.E. Jorge Sampaio, President Xanana Gusmão will attend the Official Ceremony marking the 30th Anniversary of the Carnation Revolution on 25th April.

Whilst in Portugal, the President is also expected to hold several meetings with various Heads of Portuguese local governments and other dignitaries and with members of the private sector and civil society, where discussions will focus on possible avenues for further assistance to Timor-Leste. In Lisbon, President Gusmão will meet with the Timorese community and several solidarity groups.

From Portugal, President Gusmão travels to Pretoria, South Africa, where, at the invitation of the South African Government, he will attend the 10th Anniversary celebration of South Africa’s Freedom day as well as the inauguration of the third democratically elected President of South Africa.

During his brief two day stay (27th-29th April) in South Africa’s capital, President Gusmão is scheduled to have meetings with H.E. President Thabo Mbeki, former South African Presidents Nelson Mandela and F.W. de Klerk and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Discussions are expected to focus on issues of mutual interest.

The presidential delegation is expected to return to Dili on 1st of May.

A Press Conference will be held at the Dili International Airport on the departure and arrival of the President. Only media personnel accredited with the Office of the President will be granted access to the conference.