Timor-Leste Awarded Sri Chinmoy Peace Medal
On 8 February 2013 Timor-Leste was awarded the Sri Chinmoy Peace Medal during the inauguration ceremony at the National Parliament of the statue dedicated to the Indian philosopher Sri Chinmoy who died in 2007. The medal was received by His Excellency Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão and by former Prime Minister and currently Secretary-General of FRETILIN, Mari Alkatiri.
At the occasion, Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão underscored the joy transmitted by this special ceremony and which gave meaning to the expression Peace in Action, of Sri Chinmoy. ‘We celebrate this occasion recalling his entire life dedicated to promoting peace and the idea that mankind consolidates itself on the basis of our unity, of our union of thought and will’, the Prime Minister stated, confessing that he felt ‘honored by being awarded such peace medal. Honor and responsibility, because it is my responsibility to also promote peace and love in our territory. I am confident that all of us dreamt of a world where there is stability. We wish to keep away from anything that is prejudicial to our common vision insofar as the future of this country and the life of its people are concerned’, the head of Government stated.
FRETILIN Secretary-General, Mari Alkatiri, stressed that ‘the value of peace, wish we all treasure, is many a times very high and difficult to attain. We must undertake a permanent exercise in order to acquire the capacity of thinking and of modifying our attitudes so that we may obtain peace. I myself want peace, and, to that end, there is a need for a daily dedication to peace-building, both in theory and in practice. What is important is to preserve peace in our hearts and in our thoughts. One example: many a time people question the reason of us resorting to the statue of a personality that is unknown to the Timorese people, but who it will get to know, because we have reached peace thanks to the efforts of many people from all over the world, and we must value this´, Mari Alkatiri concluded.
In attendance at the ceremony were the President of the Republic, His Excellency Taur Matan Ruak, the First Lady, Isabel da Costa Ferreira, the Speaker of the National Parliament, Vicente da Silva Guterres, members of the Government, members of the Diplomatic Corps, as well as former dignitaries.
