TIMOR-LESTE PARTICIPATE THE SENIOR OFFICIALS’ MEETING ON PEOPLE SMUGGLING, TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS AND RELATED TRANSNATIONAL CRIMEE

Dili, 14 June 2004
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation has delegated Mr. Roberto Soares, Director of Regional Affairs Directorate and Acting Director for Public Affairs Directorate to attend the Senior Officials’ Meeting on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime which was convened in Brisbane, from 7-8 June 2004.

Mr. Roberto Soares on his return to Dili on 10th of June 2004 said that the Senior Officials’ Meeting was officially open and addressed by the Honorable Alexander Downer MP, Foreign Minister of Australia aiming to reviewed the Bali Process on people smuggling, trafficking in persons and related transnational crime as agreed by the Ministers attended the Regional Ministerial Meeting on people smuggling, trafficking in persons and related transnational crime which Timor-Leste also involved actively since its inception. The Senior Officials meeting discussed the future directions as well as the administration and organization of the Bali Process. In addition, the goal of Bali Process is to further raise awareness of and develop greater cooperation among regional countries to combat people smuggling, trafficking in persons and related transnational crime, said Mr. Soares.

Mr. Roberto Soares also said that on future direction of Bali Process the Senior Officials considered regional and international cooperation agreed that the Bali process should continue, focusing on operational in areas where it could best add value. Indeed, the Senior Officials also reiterated the need to continue address the root causes of illegal people movements through effective collective leadership.

The senior officials meeting was co-hosted by the Government of the Republic of Indonesia and the Government of Australia which was brought together 139 Senior Officials representing 46 countries and eight international and regional organizations; from Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, People’s Republic of China, Fiji, France (New Caledonia), Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Kiribati, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Turkey, Vanuatu and Vietnam as well as Representatives of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and International Organization for Migration.

The following countries and organizations also participated as Observers: Austria, Canada, Finland, Germany, the Nederland’s, Norway, Russian Federation, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, the United States of America, the Asia Pacific Consultation on Refugees, Displaced Persons and Migrants (APC), the International Centre for Migration Policy Development Secretariat (ICMPD), Interpol, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.