Government of Timor-Leste

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Bendito dos Santos Freitas, represented Timor-Leste at the 10th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilisations (UNAOC), held from November 25^th to 27^th, 2024, in Cascais, Portugal. Under the theme “United for Peace: Restoring Trust, Reshaping the Future – Reflecting on Two Decades of Dialogue for Humanity”, this event marked the 20th anniversary of the Alliance of Civilisations establishment. 

On November 26^th, during the Ministerial Meeting of the Group of Friends of the UNAOC, Minister Bendito Freitas stressed that this Forum is a privileged space for finding joint solutions to global challenges. “We have a collective responsibility to promote peace, strengthen dialogue between civilisations, raise mutual respect and value the dignity of all peoples”, he said.

 In his speech, he highlighted “Timor-Leste's unique experience” in strengthening bilateral relations and promoting national and regional reconciliation, stating that the country is “an example that can and should be replicated in various parts of the world where conflict persists”. He also said, “Timor-Leste has proved that reconciliation is possible and that only peace can benefit all parties”. 

The Minister also stressed Timor-Leste's commitment to the values of the Alliance of Civilisations, highlighting the country's support for other states affected by conflict through the g7+, an initiative driven by Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão. He also highlighted the official adoption of the Document on Human Fraternity, signed by His Holiness Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of al-Azhar, which he described as “a historic milestone for civilisation – a giant step forward in terms of interreligious and intercivilisational dialogue”. 

The event was attended by high-level leaders, including UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who warned of the “erosion of trust in the multilateral system and between societies”, and the President of the Portuguese Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who lamented the rise in global intolerance. 

 At the closing ceremony, the Cascais Declaration reaffirmed the member states' commitment to promoting tolerance, mutual respect, and international cooperation, which are central to addressing today's global challenges.

After the conference, The Minister of Foreign Affairs will accompany Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão on an official visit to Malaysia to deepen bilateral cooperation and discuss Timor-Leste's accession process to ASEAN.