Prime Minister receives Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
The Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão received the U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the Government Palace on September 6.
It’s the first visit of a U.S. Secretary of State to Timor-Leste since independence, and Hillary Clinton had the opportunity to meet with the Head of Government and others in the Council of Ministers room.
In the press conference, Xanana Gusmão and Hillary Clinton were visibly pleased with the previous meeting that was "wide ranging and productive," in the words of the Prime Minister.
Xanana Gusmão said this meeting addressed issues about "the progress of Timor-Leste, and the implementation of the Strategic Development Plan that sets our path for the future,” and that “we have spoken about our ongoing development partnership, including the United States support of the g7+. We discussed regional and global trends in international affairs, including our shared concern about the situation in Syria, and commending the efforts of the United States in seeking to achieve a resolution to this conflict".
Highlighting the fact that Hillary Clinton is recognised globally for her relentless advocacy for peace, freedom and democracy, Xanana Gusmão also stated that the Secretary of State is “an inspiration to us in Timor-Leste” and that her “visit will be remembered by our people for many years to come”.
Hillary Clinton arrived "honored and delighted to be the first-ever United States Secretary of State to visit Timor Leste” which is “a very visible sign of our support for all that has been accomplished by the Government and the people of this nation".
The Secretary of State told the Timorese people that the United States continues to support Timor-Leste in building its strong democracy and its institutions in justice and the protection of citizens rights. "Strong democracies, we know from long practice, make more stable neighbors and capable partners", she said.
The Secretary of State congratulated the leaders and the people for the set of free, fair and peaceful of elections and the transition of power in the Presidency of the Republic, the Government and the National Parliament and spoke of the process of peacebuilding, the ‘New Deal’ and the g7+, the commitment to fragile states, and how Timor-Leste is helping to create a model for less developed countries, and that the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative is to say, metaphorically, "it is not necessary to be big to be good".
The Secretary of State mentioned the areas in which the United States and Timor-Leste work together, including the military partnership, the strengthening of the justice sector, the increasing of access to health care, agricultural development and trade through projects such as the Timor Coffee Cooperative, and going on to say that "we’re going to look for additional ways to support economic development projects that work as well as that one" especially because "projects like these reflect the model of partnership that the United States is pursuing across the Asia Pacific. These are partnerships rooted in our shared values, that deliver concrete benefits to people, and that help countries become stronger and more capable over time so they too can play their role in solving regional and global challenges”.
Secretary Clinton used the occasion to announce a new program of scholarships, worth $6.5 million dollars, allowing young Timorese to continue their studies in the United States.
In conclusion, Hillary Clinton reiterated her satisfaction to have "had this opportunity to visit one of the world’s newest democracies, a country whose people have already shown a resilience and character that is required in a democratic tradition. And so let us work together to build an enduring partnership between our nations".
