Government of Timor-Leste

The Minister of State and of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Timor-Leste, José Luis Guterres, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Jamaica, Arnold J. Nicholson Q.C., signed on September 27^th, 2014, in New York, a Joint Declaration on the establishment of diplomatic relations between both countries.

José Luis Guterres referred that “the common objective for the establishment of diplomatic relations is to reinforce friendship bounds between both nations, by engaging cooperation relations on the diplomatic, political, economic and humanitarian areas and also contributing for peace and security in the region.

The Joint Declaration expresses the wish from both countries to establish their diplomatic relations, guided by the principles of International Law, as well as by the goals and targets of the United Nations Charter, especially with regard to the promotion of international peace and security, the respect for the equality amongst States, national sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and non-interference in the internal affairs of another State, as well as to the accession to international treaties.

The establishment of diplomatic relations between both countries was formalized in accordance with the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of April 18^th, 1961, starting at the date of the signature of the Joint Declaration.

The economy of Jamaica is highly dependent on coffee, minerals, tourism and other resources. Timor-Leste has declared itself to be ready and available for developing positive bilateral relationships of cooperation with Jamaica, in the future.