Government of Timor-Leste

Prime Minister Addresses at United Nations General Assembly

On Saturday morning, the 24^th of September, Prime Minister, H.E. Dr. Rui Maria de Araújo delivered his address on behalf of Timor-Leste to the United Nations General Assembly, at the UN Headquarters in New York City.

The Prime Minister told the assembly that  “Timor-Leste has first-hand experience, that the United Nations is essential to ensure the security of peoples and countries throughout the world” and reiterated the importance of the multilateral and international system “aware that the world has a continued need to keep international peace and security, establish friendly relations among countries, and work in cooperation to find solutions to the problems of the world and to foster respect for human rights.”

Timor-Leste’s international roles within the CPLP and g7+ were noted along with the value placed on regional integration and consequently the nation’s aspiration to join ASEAN. The country’s action on its international commitments were highlighted, particularly regarding the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, endorsed at last years General Assembly, and now being integrated nationally within the planning activities and Budget of the Government Program. The Prime Minister reminded that “in addition to being one of the first countries in the world to subscribe to the Sustainable Development Goals” Timor-Leste was part of  “a group of another eight countries that, by sharing good practices and experiences, wish to serve as models for the implementation of this Agenda.”

To further the work of SDG implementation the Prime Minister explained that the Government, in collaboration with other stakeholders, has “mapped indicators for the 17 Goals and selected 20 targets that will allow us to monitor implementation based on measurable results”.

Timor-Leste’s challenge of establishing sovereign rights over its surrounding seas by delimiting maritime borders was raised in the speech, stressing the role of dialogue, the multilateral system and international law, and expressing the Prime Ministers hope to progress with this issue “in a true spirit of openness, transparency and friendship.”

The Prime Minister finished his speech reiterating “the unshakeable conviction of Timor-Leste on the importance of the multilateral system, the primacy of dialogue and peaceful resolution of disputes and conflicts, on the basis of international law and the preservation of democracy and the Rule of Law as essential ingredients to the progress of peoples and nations.”ENDS