Prime Minister starts work visits in Portugal
The Prime Minister and Minister for Defence and Security, Xanana Gusmão, has started a journey, from May 22nd to June 13th, aiming to perform some work visits to countries such as Portugal, Equatorial Guinea, São Tomé and Príncipe, Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde and an official visit to Togo.
After a few work meetings in Jakarta and Singapore, the Prime Minister arrived in Lisbon on May 25th.
On the occasion of the recent celebration of the 12th Anniversary of the Restoration of Independence of Timor-Leste, on May 20th, Xanana Gusmão kept the day of his arrival to meet with the Timorese community living in Portugal and celebrate what is one of the most important days for the country.
The Prime Minister was warmly received at the Mess of Pedrouços, on which was the first presentation to the community of the new appointed Ambassador for Timor-Leste in Portugal, Maria Paixão da Costa. Also present were the Secretary of State for Administrative Decentralization, Tomás Cabral, and the Ambassador Antonito de Araújo, for the Mission of Timor-Leste at the CPLP.
On May 26th, the Prime Minister and Minister of Defence and Security had bilateral meetings with the Minister of Defence of Portugal, José Pedro Aguiar-Branco, with the Minister of State and of Foreign Affairs of Portugal, Rui Machete and the Minister of Internal Affairs of Portugal, Miguel Macedo. At these meetings, were analysed several areas in which Portugal and Timor-Leste might strengthen their bilateral cooperation, anticipating the next visit to Díli of the Portuguese Prime Minister, Pedro Passos Coelho, which is scheduled for July, this year.
Those meetings were followed by the 15th Meeting of the CPLP’s Ministers of Defence, with the presence of the CPLP’s Executive Secretary, Murade Isaac Murargy. Apart from the agreement of all the members to strengthen cooperation in the field of Defence, it was consensual the greeting to political and social forces of Guinea Bissau for pacifically holding transparent and fair legislative and presidential elections.
The third day in Portugal was marked by the visit of Xanana Gusmão, accompanied by Miguel Macedo, to the Coast Control Unit of the National Republican Guard (GNR). This visit comes under the planned strengthening of the cooperation between Portugal and Timor-Leste, in the sector of Maritime Surveillance, currently being studied by the two countries the way in which Portugal might help enabling Timorese professionals on the protection of coast zones and maritime resources.
Also in this last day of visit to Portugal, the Prime Minister took the chance to participate in an extraordinary meeting of the CPLP’s Permanent Steering Committee, at the Community’s Headquarters, where he presented to the representatives of the Member States, the evolution of the preparations for the Summit of Dili, next July, when Timor-Leste will assume the rotating presidency of the CPLP.
After Portugal, the Prime Minister will arrive in Lomé, Togo’s Capital City, on the 28th, for an official visit where he will also participate in the g7+ meeting, leaving the Capital City on June 1st, in order to proceed with the remaining work visits.
To read the speech at the the fifteenth meeting of Defence Ministers of the CPLP, click here.
To see photos of the working visit, click here.
