The President of the Republic, Taur Matan Ruak, expressed the total support of the Timorese State to José Ramos-Horta who will take up the post of Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations to Guiné-Bissau. This was the message conveyed by the Head of State at the farewell ceremony for former President of the Republic held on Monday 4 February 2013 in Dili.

“On behalf of the Timorese State I wish to ensure that José Ramos-Horta will have all our attention during the period in which he will be in front of such a difficult mission and that he deserves all our effort and support so that he may succeed in his new endeavour not only with the United Nations, but also with CPLP and Timor-Leste”.

According to the recently appointed Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, “the role of the United Nations is to maintain the link between national and regional actors with the objective of finding solutions to the problem. Therefore, I humbly affirm that I shall not be the one to settle the problem of Guiné-Bissau. It is incumbent upon the people of Guiné-Bissau to find the necessary solution, counting on the support of the United Nations, but also of Timor-Leste”.

As scheduled, José Ramos-Horta will leave Timor-Leste for Guiné-Bissau on 7 February 2013, accompanied by Lieutenant Luís da Silva, Assistant-Superintendent Ismael da Costa Babo, 8 close protection officers and one advisor.

In addition to the Head of State, present at the farewell ceremony were: the Speaker of the National Parliament, Vicente Guterres; the Deputy Prime Minister, Fernando La Sama de Araújo; the President of the Court of Appeals, Cláudio Ximenes; former Members of the National Parliament; members of the Government; the Diplomatic Corps; Leaders of independent institutions; Representatives of NGO’s; and some local residents.