President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono makes an Official Visit to Timor-Leste
The President of the Republic of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, visited Timor-Leste on August 25th, 26th and 27th. During three days, the Head of State from the closest neighbour of Timor-Leste, accompanied by the First Lady, Ani Bambang Yudhoyono, and by a huge delegation, visited the capital city of Timor-Leste.
On the first day of the agenda of the Indonesian President was a visit to the cemetery of Santa Cruz and, naturally, to Taman Makam Pahlawan (TMP) Seroja, the cemetery for the Indonesian soldiers.
The 27th, was marked by the official visit to the President of the Republic of Timor-Leste, Taur Matan Ruak, on which Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was received by a Guard of Honour and, where, after the meeting between both Heads of State, was served an official lunch offered by the President of the Timorese Republic.
At the same time, both First Ladies, Isabel da Costa Ferreira and Ani Bambang Yudhoyono, launched the project “Casa da Cidadania - Rumah Pintar” (House of Citizenship), temporarily located at the Presidential Palace.
In the afternoon, the President of the Republic of Indonesia performed a courtesy visit to the Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão, at the Government Palace. At the bilateral meeting, several memoranda of understanding between both countries where signed, for the areas of culture, fisheries, education, information and communication technologies, integrated regional development, as well as a memorandum of understanding between Indonesian Airline Garuda Airlines and Air Timor.
At a press conference with the President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and the Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão, they both highlighted the friendship and cooperation bonds and the good outcomes achieved. The Head of State stated, further, that “we are also role-models for a peace building that has never happened anywhere in the world” and that “our responsibility and the responsibility of the next generation is to maintain what we have achieved and reinforce it even more”. The President took the chance to reaffirm the Indonesia's support towards the efforts of Timor-Leste to join ASEAN.
On his statement, Xanana Gusmão highlighted the work of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono who, during the last decade, drove Indonesia towards progress and a “well succeeded and tolerant democracy” and thanked all the support provided to Timor-Leste on peace building, reconciliation and cooperation between both nations. “Timor-Leste and Indonesia share not only an island, we share a future”, reinforced the Prime Minister.
Also at the Government Palace, and in a symbolic gesture, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, accompanied by Xanana Gusmão and other members of the Government, planted two sandalwood trees.
The second day of the visit finished with a farewell dinner in honour of the President of the Republic of Indonesia, offered by the Prime Minister of Timor-Leste, at Cristo Rei.
Before leaving Timor-Leste, on August 27th, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono also inaugurated the new building of the Ministry of Finance, in Aitarak Laran, from where he left to the ceremony for the launching of the construction of Indonesian Cultural Centre, in Caicoli.
The President of Indonesia left Díli heading to Bali, to participate on the VI United Nations’ World Forum of the Alliance of Civilizations, which will have the participation of the Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão. The Head of State of Timor-Leste highlighted this by stating that “In this time of world disorder, it is fitting that we will join together again in Indonesia. It will allow me to speak to the world about Timor-Leste and Indonesia being a global model of peace building and reconciliation”.
