Media Releases
- 29 of September of 2021Meeting of the Council of Ministers on September 29th, 2021Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
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Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers on September 29th, 2021
The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace in Dili and after analyzing the presentation of the epidemiological situation of the country, carried out by the coordinators of the Situation Room of the Integrated Center for Crisis Management (ICCM), decided:
- Not to renew the imposition of a sanitary fence in the Municipality of Dili, which ends today at 23:59 hours.
The draft Government Decree on measures to implement the Declaration of the State of Emergency, carried out by Decree of the President of the Republic No. 81/2021, of September 28, to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, was approved. The state of emergency, now renewed, covers the entire national territory and will be in force between 00:00 hours on September 30, 2021 and 23:59 hours on October 29, 2021.
Regarding the implementation measures of the previous declaration of the state of emergency, there are three changes, and it is now established that:
The entry into national territory of those who have completed vaccination, including those who come or have passed through countries that have notified the Delta variant of SARS-COV-2, is no longer subject to quarantine, maintaining the obligation of prior presentation of a negative COVID-19 detection result and within 48 hours after arrival in the country, they must perform a new COVID-19 diagnostic test.
In the event of an outbreak of COVID-19 anywhere in the country, all individuals residing in Timor-Leste are required to undergo COVID-19 diagnostic medical examinations or submit full vaccination certification.
All public administration employees must be vaccinated against COVID-19.
The remaining rules maintain, namely, the obligation for all individuals residing in Timor-Leste to maintain a distance at least one meter from other individuals with whom they do not live in the same residence. They are also still required to wear a face mask that covers the nose and mouth when they have to access or remain in public or private places of collective use and to sanitize their hands when they intend to enter commercial, industrial or service establishments or buildings where functioning public administration services.
During the duration of the state of emergency, licenses, permits, visas and residence permits and other administrative acts and documents remain valid regardless of the period of validity. The draft Bill of Law, which has as its object the approval of the Civil Registration Code, presented by the Minister of Justice, Manuel Cárceres da Costa, was approved.
The aim of this project is to create the necessary procedures for the registration of birth, adoption, marriage and death, thus allowing the realization of the rights, freedoms and guarantees contained in the Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste. The Law Proposal also aims to provide a legal framework for the possibility of registration supports being drawn up in a computer system and provide the civil registry services with a normative framework that fills the existing gaps and provides regulatory instruments for the procedures necessary for the execution of registration acts related to the state and capacity of individual people.
The draft Decree-Law, presented by the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Culture, Longuinhos dos Santos, was approved. Which revokes Decree-Law No. 30/2008, of 13 August, regarding the regime for attributing scholarships for study abroad.
The attribution of scholarships abroad will be regulated by a Ministerial Diploma of the MESCC, under the Regulation of the Human Capital Development Fund (HCDF).
Therefore, it is intended, to guarantee the correct application of the HCDF regulation, to improve the protection mechanisms of Timorese students abroad and to clarify, improve and modernize the legal system in the higher education sector.
The draft Government Resolution approving the Pelican Paradise Group investment project and the Special Investment, Agreement Draft, presented by the Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs, Joaquim Amaral and the Executive Director of the Agency for the Promotion of Timor-Leste Investment and Export, IP – TradeInvest Timor-Leste, Arcanjo da Silva. This project foresees an investment of 700 million US dollars for the development of a tourist complex, in an area of approximately 558 hectares, in the area between Tasi Tolu and Tibar, which includes, in addition to the hotel units, a golf course, residential lots, a youth development center, an international school, an international hospital and shopping malls. This tourist complex will create around 750 posts during the construction phase and 1300 permanent posts after construction is completed. It is also expected that 80% of the project area will be designated for reforestation and restoration of flora and fauna.
The Council of Ministers decided to grant full powers to the Minister of Transport and Communications, José Agustinho da Silva, to sign two Air Services Agreements with the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. These agreements aim to boost connectivity between Timor-Leste and the rest of the world, allowing for the creation of conditions for the operation of more regular flights in the country, as well as to increase the options for flight destinations.
Finally, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Planning and Planning, José Maria dos Reis and the Minister of State Administration, Miguel Pereira de Carvalho, presented to the Council of Ministers the options of locations for the implementation of multipurpose reception centers to provide response to emergency situations and serve as a temporary shelter for victims of serious accidents and natural disasters. The Council of Ministers did not present any objections to the continuation of the process. THE END
- 24 of September of 2021Extraordinary Meeting of the Council of Ministers on September 24th, 2021Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
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Press Release
Extraordinary Meeting of the Council of Ministers of September 24th, 2021
The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace in Dili and approved a vote of regret and decided to declare national mourning for the death of the Commander Ma’Huno Bulerek Karathayano, former Commander of the Armed Forces for the National Liberation of Timor-Leste (FALINTIL), former Secretary of the FRETILIN Board of Directors and currently First Vice President of the CNRT Party, throughout the national territory, for a period of national mourning, the national flag is hoisted, at half mast or half-halyard, throughout the country, in places of mandatory use, including in diplomatic missions.
The Council of Ministers also approved the aggregate and disaggregated expenditure ceilings to be considered in the General State Budget (GSB) for 2022, presented by the Minister of Finance, Rui Augusto Gomes.
The Aggregate Ceiling has a total amount of US$ 1.675 billion, in view of the execution of the Government’s program and the national priorities defined by the 8th Constitutional Government.
The 8th Constitutional Government defined six national priorities for the 2022 General State Budget: 1) human capital development (education, vocational training and health); 2) housing and social inclusion; 3) productive sectors (agriculture and tourism), environment and connectivity; 4) private sector development; 5) rural development; and 6) good governance.
The total amount of the 2022 General State Budget, 233 million correspond to salaries and wages, 449.8 million refer to goods and service, 565.9 million are public transfers, 24.4 million correspond to minor capital and 401.7 million refer to the development capital.
The Council of Ministers approved, with amendments, the draft Decree-Law regarding the new remuneration regime for FALINTIL –Timor-Leste’s Defense Forces (F-FDTL), presented by the Minister of Defense, Filomeno da Paixão de Jesus. The project proceeds with salary increase of around 5% in all military posts and the updating of salary supplements.
This legislative intervention aims to make the military career more attractive, with a salary condition consistent with the modernization and growing professionalization of the armed forces. It is also intended to harmonize this statute with the proposed amendment to the F-FDTL Military Statute.
The Draft Decree-Law on the new remuneration regime for the Timor-Leste’s National Police of (PNTL) presented by the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Taur Matan Ruak and Vice Minister of the Interior, António Armindo, was also approved, with amendments, With this project, global remuneration increases in the order of 5 %of the base remuneration are carried out and the remuneration supplements are updated.
The Council of Ministers decided to declare its non-objection to the exchange of diplomatic notes regarding the agreement with the Government of Japan on the Japanese State’s support for the implementation of the President Nicolau Lobato International Airport expansion project. The deliberation project was presented by the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Julião da Silva. With this agreement, it is expected that the President Nicolau Lobato International Airport will benefit from a modern passenger terminal with an area of 11,653 square meters, and a building suitable for a power station.
Finally, the Minister of State Administration, Miguel Pereira de Carvalho, made a presentation regarding the options for measures for the population resettlement affected by the floods of April 4th 2021.
Of the 15,876 people housed in 57 reception centers in the Dili, more than 15,000 have already returned to their homes and their families. The presentation described the options and the respective existing socio-economic impacts for relocating the 765 people (137 families) who are housed in seven centers that still active.
The Council of Ministers will continue the analysis of the options and respective deliberation at a subsequent Executive meeting. END
- 24 of September of 2021Note of Condolence on the death of Comandante Ma'Huno Bulerek KarathayanoPrezidénsia Konsellu Ministrusmore
VIII Governu Konstitusionál
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Dili, loron 24, fulan-setembru, tinan 2021
Komunikadu Imprensa
Votu Pezar ba Komandante Ma'Huno Bulerek Karathayano nia mate
Governu Timor-Leste, lori nasaun nia naran, hato’o nia profundu pezar ba saudozu komandante Ma’Huno Bulerek Karathayano (Bukar), antigu Komandante Forsa Armada ba Libertasaun Nasionál Timor-Leste (FALINTIL) no sobrevivente ida husi Komité Sentrál FRETILIN, hakotu-iis iha loron 24 fulan-setembru, iha Hospital Nacionál Guido Valadares.
Governu mós deside ona hodi dekreta lutu nasionál iha teritóriu nasionál tomak, durante loron tolu, husi tuku 8:00 loron 25 fulan-setembru to’o tuku 07:59 loron 28 fulan-setembru, hodi hanoin ba eis-Komandante nia mate.
Saudozu Ma’Huno Bulerek Karathayano, moris iha loron 14 fulan Abril tinan 1949, hetan knaar ida importante iha prosesu reorganizasaun rezisténsia nian, hahú iha loron 3 fulan-marsu tinan 1981.
Nu’udár Sekretáriu ba Komisaun Diretiva FRETILIN no lidera FALINTIL hafoin Komandante ein Xefe FALINTIL, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão tama tiha prizaun, iha fulan -novembru tinan 1992, kargu ne’ebé nia okupa to’o fulan-abril 1993, iha momentu ne’ebé maka nia mós ema kaptura.
Iha tinan 2017, Ma’Huno Bulerek Karathayano eleitu ba Vise-Presidente Partidu CNRT.
Iha tinan 2018, Komandante Ma’Huno hetan agradesimentu husi Prezidente Repúblika ho Orden Timor-Leste ba ninia kontribuisaun iha luta ba libertasaun nasionál. Iha tinan 2006 nia simu ona Orden Guerilla nian no Orden Dom Boaventura
Primeiru-Ministru, Taur Matan Ruak, iha seremória hahú lutu nasionál loron tolu ba omenajen Komandante Ma’Huno Bulerek Karathayano, afirma katak, “ita lakon erói nasionál ida no fundadór Repúblika Demokratika Timor-Leste” no rekoñese “ninia kontribuisaun bo’ot ba luta autodeterminasaun” saida mak halo ona “hamoris fila-fali ita-nia nasaun hanesan nasaun livre no independente. - 22 of September of 2021Meeting of the Council of Ministers on September 22nd, 2021Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
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Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers on September 22nd, 2021
The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace in Dili and, after analyzing the presentation of the national epidemiological situation, carried out by the coordinators of the Situation Room of the Integrated Center for Crisis Management (ICCM), decided:
to propose to His Excellency, the President of the Republic, Francisco Guterres Lú Olo, the renewal of the state of emergency, for another thirty days. Given that the determining causes that justified the declaration of the state of emergency and its renewals remain, in order to avoid and neutralize the risks of spreading new strains of SARS-CoV-2 and thus to protect public health and capacity of response of the National Health System, the Government proposes to the President of the Republic that, with the renewal of the state of emergency, the suspension or restriction of some fundamental rights and guarantees be allowed.
To approve the draft Government Resolution that maintains the imposition of a sanitary fence in the municipality of Dili until 23:59 hours on 29 September;
Thus, the imposition of the ban on the movement of people between the municipality of Dili and other administrative districts remains in force, except in duly substantiated cases for reasons of public safety, public health, humanitarian assistance, maintenance of public supply systems or performance public interest. This circulation ban does not cover individuals who can prove complete vaccination (two doses) against COVID-19, as well as children under six years of age who accompany them. not renew the imposition of sanitary fences in the municipalities of Baucau, Covalima and Ermera, which end today at 23:59 hours.
to approve the draft Government Resolution prohibiting the organization and holding of funeral ceremonies in buildings where bodies or services of the direct and indirect administration of the State are installed, in memory of employees, agents or workers of the public administration.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Social Solidarity and Inclusion, Armanda Berta dos Santos and the Minister of Health, Odete Maria Freitas Belo, as President and Vice-President, respectively, of the Interministerial Commission for the Elaboration and Coordination of Execution of the Vaccination Plan against COVID-19, made a presentation to the Council of Ministers on the process of implementation and functioning of the electronic vaccination certificate. The system was launched on June 10th, at the time of the launch of the second phase of vaccination against COVID-19 and works through the RSETL mobile phone application of the Family Health Program. The platform that contains the registration of vaccination against COVID-19 and also serves as proof for travel between municipalities covered by the imposition of sanitary fences.
Finally, those responsible for the Preparation and Coordination of the Implementation of the Vaccination Plan against COVID-19 also made a presentation on the preparation for the introduction of the Pfizer vaccine in national territory, aimed at allowing the vaccination of young people aged between 12 and 17 years. The COVAX Mechanism has already confirmed its availability to send 100,620 doses, which should arrive in the country soon. According to the plan presented, vaccination will be carried out in schools and the first 50,000 young people to receive the vaccine will be students from the 6th to the 11th of high school, from pre-selected municipalities. In the second phase, the remaining students and young people who are not registered in schools will be vaccinated. The two doses of this vaccine will be given 21 days apart. The preparation of the necessary storage conditions for the vaccines is being carried out at SAMES with the technical and financial support of UNICEF. The operational procedures for the storage, transport, management and application of the vaccines have already been prepared, which will be ensured with the technical support of the World Health Organization. The Pfizer vaccine against COVID-19 is 95% effective against the infection symptomatic by SARS-CoV-2. The End
- 20 of September of 2021Extraordinary Meeting of the Council of Ministers on September 20th, 2021Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
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Press Release
Extraordinary Meeting of the Council of Ministers of September 20th, 2021
The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace in Dili and approve the draft Decree-Law that aims to create the monthly food subsidy, presented by the Ministry of Finance, Rui Augusto Gomes.
This subsidy will be attributed to public servants, takes the nature of a benefit in kind and aims to reduce expenditure on the purchase of food and preparation of meals, and, simultaneously, to promote the purchase of agricultural products from national producers, encouraging increasing the productivity of the the agriculture sector. The National Logistic Center is responsible for the acquisition, management, stroage of products, as well as their distribution to the respective bodies and services.
Monthly, the public servants will have the right to 35 kg of rice, five kg of corn, five kilos of beans, five kilos of mung beans and two kilos of soybeans. In case of unavailability of any of the aforementioned products, they can be replaced by others with the same value. Delivery is made quartely by the agencias by the agencies and services in which the beneficiearies exercise their functions.
The draft Decree-Law project for the creation of a monthly transport subsidy for holders of management and leadership and leadership positions and for employees of the Public Administration was also approved, replacing the attribution of State vehicles. The creation of this subsidy aims to offset the regular costs of beneficiaries related to transport and minimize the expense associated with the allocation of State vehicles and promote the rationalization of the public car fleet. The monthly grant amount is US$ 25 for civil servants, US$ 50 for Heads of Section, US$ 75 for Heads of Department, US$ 100 for National Directors and US$ 150 for Directors General. It is estimated that this measure will allow saving of over 700 thousand US dollars in relation to the current cost of acquisition and maintenance of vehicles and fuel.
The Council of Ministers approved the draft Government Resolution on the management and reallocation of State vehicles, also presented by the Minister of Finance. This resolution introduces a set of management measures for State vehicles to minimize the expense associated with their allocation and to promote the rationalization of the public car fleet. As a result of this Government Resolutin, among other measures: a) the aquisition of State vehicles is suspended in 2022; b) the Minister of Finance, by order, will set the limit number of vehicles assigned to each agency and service; c) any acquisition of State Vehicles must be offset by the sale of the same number of vehicles; d) and all State vehicles must be registered in the national database.
Ministry Council the Draft decree- Law project, Presented by The Prime-Minister, Taur Matan Ruak, the propose is for the creation of The National Planning Agency, Monitoring and Evaluation (ANAPMA Portuguese Acronyms).
With approval of this Diploma, The Planning Unit, Evaluation and Monitoring (UPMA) is Extinct, Being replaced by National Planning Agency, Evaluation and Monitoring (ANAPMA) Portuguese Acronyms, Which constitutes with the Central Administration directly from State, Endowed with Administrative and Financial Autonomy.
This Agency’s Mission is to Provides technical and administrative support to the Prime-Minister in order to strengthening the competence of the state’s institutional and Coordinating the actions of various members of Government, In particular for the achievement of the objectives and targets set out in the government’s programs goals.
The ANAPMA is Responsible for the organization, Coordinating and Supervision of medium term multi-year planning administrative procedures and Processes, Corresponding to a period of five years, and monitoring and evaluating the respective implementation.
The agency is headed by an executive director, hierarchically subordinated to the Prime Minister and Assisted by three Deputy Directors responsible for the areas of Administrations and finance, planning, monitoring and evaluation.
The Draft decree-law, also presented by the Prime Minister, was approved for the Creation of the Civil Society and Social Audit Support Services (SASCAS Portuguese Acronyms).
With the approval of these Decree- Laws, The Civil Society Support office and the Social Audit unit are extinguished, from the prime-minister’s office, Being created, in its replacement, the service of support to civil society and social audit, which also built a central service of the direct administration of the state, Endow with administrative and financial autonomy, in order to ensure a majority of speed and responsiveness of the public administration service responsible for meeting the requests addressed to it by civil society organizations.
The SASCAD is headed by an executive Director, hierarchically reporting to the Prime-Minister and assisted by a deputy Director for Public Grants and Deputy Director for Administration and Finance.
Finally, the Council of Ministers decided to declare its non-objection to the approval, by the Minister of Education, Youth and Sports, of the list of candidates approved in the preliminary stage of the written test and to the oral test/interview of the aforementioned candidates, for the hiring of 93 technicians to fill existing vacancies at the level of the central services of this Ministry. END - 15 of September of 2021Meeting of the Council of Ministers on September 15, 2021Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
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Press Release
Meeting of the Council of Ministers on September 15, 2021
The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace in Dili and decided to approve the signing of an agreement between the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and the Korean International Cooperation Agency “KOIKA”, regarding the project, to be developed between 2021 and 2025, for the improvement of the agricultural value chain, through the participation of farmers in Timor-Leste.
The agreement provides for technical assistance and supply of material, by KOIKA, for an estimated total amount of six million US dollars.
The project will contribute to the strengthening of the agricultural and horticultural sector, with the objectives of raising agricultural productivity in the target areas, establishing agricultural production infrastructure and increasing agricultural production capacity, allowing access to the market for local products, improving facilities sales and distribution, as well as agricultural marketing capacity.
The Council of Ministers attributed full powers to the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Pedro dos Reis, the power to sign the referred agreement.
The Council of Ministers decided to authorize the opening of the provisioning procedure regarding the construction work of the new facilities of the Betano’s Polytechnic Institute (IPB), in accordance with the draft resolution presented by the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Culture, Longuinhos dos Santos.
The IPB Construction Project stems from an integrated development plan related to the Strategic Plan for National Development for the period 2011-2030, with the fundamental objective of improving the quality of higher education and increasing the human resources training specialized in essential areas to the national interest.
The Council of Ministers has decided to authorize the signing of a financing agreement with the Asian Development Bank concerning the President Nicolau Lobato International Airport Expansion Project. The Council of Ministers granted full powers to the Minister of Finance, Rui Augusto Gomes, to sing this agreement. The project provides for the extension of the runway, a new control tower and rehabilitation of other facilities.
Also within the scope of the Expansion Project of the international Airport President Nicolau Lobato, the Council of Ministers decided to authorize, for the first phase of development of the project, the opening of three provisioning procedures, of the type International public Tender, for the award of public contracts for the provisioning of undertakings for contracting companies for design and construction, for the provision of supervisory services and for the project management.
The Vice Prime-Minister and Minister of Planning and Territory, José Maria dos Reis, presented to the Council of Ministers the political and legislative options underlying the project relating to Special Areas for Environmental and Ecological Protection.
These areas are a set of areas which, by their ecological value and sensitivity or by their exposure to natural hazards, are subject to special protection. The proposed options aim of creating a special legal regime to establish a set of constraints on land occupation, use and transformation, determining compatible uses and incompatible uses.
This measure has the main objectives to protect the natural resources water and soil, to prevent the degradation of the aquifer recharge, to protect the natural risks (floods, floods, soil erosion and landslides) and to protect the sensitive ecosystems. END
- 13 of September of 2021Extraordinary Meeting of the Council of Ministers of September 13, 2021Presidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
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Press Release
Extraordinary Meeting of the Council of Ministers of September 13, 2021
The Government of Timor-Leste, on behalf of the entire nation, expresses its deep regret for the death of the former President of Portugal, Jorge Sampaio, who during his terms in Belém always fought for the free and democratic exercise of the Timor-Leste’s right to self-determination.
The Former Head of State of Portugal died this Friday, on September 10th, age of 81, in the Santa Cruz Hospital, in Lisbon, where he had been hospitalized since August 27th, after having felt breathing difficulties.
Linked to politics since his time as students at the Faculty of Law of the University of Lisbon, he led the Socialist Party and was elected Mayor of Lisbon in 1989. In 1996 he was elected as the President of the Republic, a position he held until March 2006.
He was appointed in 2006 by the Secretary General of the United Nations Special Envoy for the Fight Against Tuberculosis. Between 2007 and 2013 he was the High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations.
In 2016, Jorge Sampaio received the timorese State’s highest award, the Grand Collar of the Order of Timor-Leste, in recognition of his “solidarity and active support” in the struggle for the independence of our country. The award was presented by the current Prime Minister, Taur Matan Ruak, in Lisbon and at the time as the President of the Republic. On the occasion, Taur Matan Ruak expressed “the deep recognition for humanism, the countless expression of solidarity and the active support of over the years, they have revived the struggle for freedom, self-determination and independence of Timor-Leste”.
In 2006, the National Parliament had also awarded Jorge Sampaio the title of Honorary Citizen of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste.
The Prime Minister, in a message published today, stated that Jorge Sampaio “ went down in history as the President who contributed a lot to the Restoration of National Independence, which he witnessed as a guest of honor at the ceremony that took place on the 20th of May 2002”. The Head of Government also said that the late Former President Jorge Sampaio will be remembered in the world as a major figure of causes and freedom and recognized as a Great Friend of Timor-Leste and the Timorese”.
The Government Spokeman, Minister Fidelis Magalhães presented his condolonces to the family and friends of the late former President and stated that “Jorge Sampaio will forever be remembered by the timorese people for his deep commitment to human rights, justice and solidarity”. END - 10 of September of 2021Note of Condolence on the death of Jorge Sampaio, a friend of Timor-LestePresidency of the Council of Ministersmore
Eighth Constitutional Government
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Dili, September 10th, 2021
Press Release
Note of Condolence on the death of Jorge Sampaio, a friend of Timor-Leste
The Government of Timor-Leste, on behalf of the entire nation, expresses its deep regret for the death of the former President of Portugal, Jorge Sampaio, who during his terms in Belém always fought for the free and democratic exercise of the Timor-Leste’s right to self-determination.
The Former Head of State of Portugal died this Friday, on September 10th, age of 81, in the Santa Cruz Hospital, in Lisbon, where he had been hospitalized since August 27th, after having felt breathing difficulties.
Linked to politics since his time as students at the Faculty of Law of the University of Lisbon, he led the Socialist Party and was elected Mayor of Lisbon in 1989. In 1996 he was elected as the President of the Republic, a position he held until March 2006.
He was appointed in 2006 by the Secretary General of the United Nations Special Envoy for the Fight Against Tuberculosis. Between 2007 and 2013 he was the High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations.
In 2016, Jorge Sampaio received the timorese State’s highest award, the Grand Collar of the Order of Timor-Leste, in recognition of his “solidarity and active support” in the struggle for the independence of our country. The award was presented by the current Prime Minister, Taur Matan Ruak, in Lisbon and at the time as the President of the Republic. On the occasion, Taur Matan Ruak expressed “the deep recognition for humanism, the countless expression of solidarity and the active support of over the years, they have revived the struggle for freedom, self-determination and independence of Timor-Leste”.
In 2006, the National Parliament had also awarded Jorge Sampaio the title of Honorary Citizen of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste.
The Prime Minister, in a message published today, stated that Jorge Sampaio “ went down in history as the President who contributed a lot to the Restoration of National Independence, which he witnessed as a guest of honor at the ceremony that took place on the 20th of May 2002”. The Head of Government also said that the late Former President Jorge Sampaio will be remembered in the world as a major figure of causes and freedom and recognized as a Great Friend of Timor-Leste and the Timorese”.
The Government Spokeman, Minister Fidelis Magalhães presented his condolonces to the family and friends of the late former President and stated that “Jorge Sampaio will forever be remembered by the timorese people for his deep commitment to human rights, justice and solidarity”. END
