DILI ESTABLISHES FREINDSHIP CITY RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CAPITAL OF AUSTRALIA-CANBERRA

Dili, 02 June 2004
The Embassy of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste in Canberra has been working together with the ACT Government in continuing the special relationship that has been established between the two, by focusing on the visit of the Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Mr. Jon Stanhope, MLA and his delegation to Dili, Timor-Leste on the 7th-8th June 2004 for the Official Signing of Agreement of Friendship Cities between Dili and Canberra.

The official signing ceremony will be held at the Hotel Timor and will be attended by East Timorese official Government members, the Ambassador of Australia to East Timor and members of his Diplomatic staff, official members from Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT) and a member from Canberra Friends of Dili (CFD).

Mr. Ruben Braz de Calvalho, the Dili District Administrator will sign the Agreement on behalf of Timor-Leste Government and Mr. Jon Stanhope will sign on behalf of the ACT Government.

The Agreement is base on the spirit of mutual respect and cooperation, the people of Canberra (Australia) and Dili (Timor-Leste) affirm their intention to develop a Friendship Relationship between the City of Canberra and the District of Dili, and all members of these communities.

The ACT Government has offered support to the East Timor Government by giving a space for the Embassy of Timor-Leste to use as a temporary office while waiting for the East Timor chancery or Embassy to be built in the near future.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Timor-Leste Dr José Ramos-Horta has made the following comments at the official opening ceremony of the Embassy of Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste on the 10th December 2003. “Today is a cause for celebration. Today it is my privilege to gather with friends and supporters, who have come from all over Australia, to declare the Embassy of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste open. Today is made possible by the generosity of the ACT Government, who has given our Government these wonderful facilities. This generosity is a marked with deep affection between Timor-Leste and Australia.”

“As first Ambassador of Timor-Leste to Australia, I would like to thank ACT Chief Minister Mr. Jon Stanhope, MLA for his wonderful gift for the people of Timor-Leste. Without the charity of his community, the Timor-Leste Embassy’s would not be as we can see today. ACT Government has been so generous to provide this block of building to be used as the Embassy of Timor –Leste. This is a real expression of love and solidarity of the Canberrans to the people of Timor-Leste.” said Ambassador Jorge Teme.

During his visit the Chief Minister will also pay a courtesy call to the President of Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste H.E Mr. Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, and attend several ceremonies in Dili.