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 Speech by H. E. the Prime Minister, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão

New York

24 September 2024

Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão officially launched, on September 23rd 2024, the Blue Economy photographic coffee table book titled “Ha’u-nia Tasi, Ha’u-nia Timor” (My Sea, My Timor) at The Explorers Club, in New York City. 

The book was produced by the Land and Maritime Boundary Office (LMBO) and is part of the Blue Economy campaign aimed at promoting the sustainable development of Timor-Leste’s marine resources to diversify the nation’s economy. 

The “My Sea, My Timor” photographic book is a celebration of Timor-Leste’s special relationship with the sea, both in and out of the water. Each chapter of the book captures stunning images of Timor-Leste’s vibrant and exciting marine life. It also illustrates the unique biodiversity of the Timorese waters and the ancestral traditions that connect Timorese to nature and the sea. 

Notable attendees included oceanographers and marine scientists, photographers, ambassadors and diplomats from the g7+ group and the Community of Portuguese Speaking countries (CPLP), representatives of UN agencies, academics, marine conservationists, and other guests. 

In his remarks, Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão who is leading the development of Timor-Leste’s Blue Economy, expressed his deepest gratitude for the support given by many of those present at the book launch to preserve and protect the ocean in Timor and around the world. 

The launch of the “Ha’u-nia Tasi, Ha’u-nia Timor” photographic coffee table book took place on the sidelines of the 79th United National General Assembly, where Prime Minister is leading the Timor-Leste delegation and is expected to deliver his speech on 27September.

 

Presidency of the Council of Ministers

Spokesperson of the Government of Timor-Leste

Ninth Constitutional Government

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Press Release

Meeting of the Council of Ministers on September 25th, 2024

The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace in Dili and approved the draft Government Resolution, presented by the acting Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Adérito Hugo da Costa, and the President of the Civil Service Commission, Agostinho Letêncio de Deus, which sets the vacancies for the promotion of staff integrated into the General Regime of Civil Service Careers for the year 2024.

Of a total of 817 vacancies for promotion established by this Government Resolution, 47 are for the category of Senior Technician – Grade A, 122 for Senior Technician – Grade B, 188 for Professional Technician – Grade C, 234 for Professional Technician – Grade D, 149 for Administrative Technician – Grade E and 77 for Assistant – Grade F.

According to a proposal from the Civil Service Commission, the Government shall determine the number of vacancies for promotion each year, up to a limit of ten per cent of the total number of staff in each category or professional group.

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An initial assessment of the initiative to create a seniority-based promotion system for civil servants, also presented by the Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and the Civil Service Commission, has been carried out. This initiative aims to guarantee career progression for those who, for various reasons, have not achieved promotions based on merit in recent years, based on criteria such as seniority, performance, age, professional training, work in remote areas, good behaviour and attendance.

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The Secretary of State for Equality, Elvina de Sousa Carvalho, gave a presentation to the Council of Ministers on implementing the gender equality policy and the recommendations of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). The Third Phase of the Maubisse Declaration (2023-2028) was also presented, which continues the previous phases with a focus on the economic empowerment of rural women and people with disabilities. This phase is aligned with the priorities of the 9th Constitutional Government and the recommendations of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).

The main commitments of this phase are organised into three areas: they include Social Capital, which covers social protection, inclusive education and healthcare, with an emphasis on preventing gender-based violence and improving maternal healthcare; Infrastructure, which promotes access to safe and accessible markets, the development of roads, sanitation and adapted public buildings, with an emphasis on inclusive public transport; and Economy, which prioritises agricultural development, female entrepreneurship and access to credit for rural women, strengthening their participation in sectors such as tourism and agriculture. Monitoring mechanisms are also being strengthened to guarantee the implementation of these commitments. Implementation is led by several key government institutions, including relevant ministries and the National Trade Bank of Timor-Leste (BNCTL), which ensure that the planned measures are effectively implemented.

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Intending to resolve the payment of existing debts to hospitals abroad and guarantee the continuity of health services, the Council of Ministers instructed the Minister of Health to conduct a detailed survey of debts, payment deadlines, and the funds available to make these commitments. The Minister of Health must establish prioritisation criteria for payments based on the urgency of the services, risks to public health and the impact on hospital operations.

Among other measures, the Council of Ministers also instructed the Minister of Health to start negotiations with the hospitals to restructure the debts and to propose a budget reinforcement for the health sector to the Ministry of Finance. The implementation of these measures will be monitored by a working group established specifically for this purpose, which will have to submit regular reports to the Council of Ministers on the progress made in settling hospital debts. END

9 am, Government Palace

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The g7+ Secretariat symbolically inaugurated its office in New York at a ceremony attended by the Prime Minister, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, the Minister of Planning and Economic Development of Sierra Leone and President of the g7+, Kenyeh Barlay. The opening of this new office aims to reinforce coordination between member states and strengthen the organisation’s global presence.

This new space in New York marks an important stage in the work of the g7+. It will provide a platform to strengthen collaboration between member countries and increase effectiveness in promoting their priorities in international forums. It will also enable the promotion of partnerships with international organisations, academic institutions, and other stakeholders. 

Established in 2010 at the initiative of fragile and post-conflict countries during the first International Dialogue on Peacebuilding and Statebuilding, held in Dili, Timor-Leste, the g7+ currently brings together 20 countries from Africa, Asia, the Middle East and the Pacific. These countries share experiences and promote a model of mutual cooperation called ‘Fragile to Fragile Cooperation’, which aims for sustainable development in essential areas such as security, justice, good governance and financial management. 

As a founding member, Timor-Leste has played a leading role and has been one of the most active members since its creation. The organisation expanded its influence by obtaining Observer status at the United Nations in 2019 and registering its Charter with the UN Treaty Office in 2021.

With the opening of the new office, the g7+ strengthens its capacity to act as a united voice in favour of the most vulnerable nations, in close collaboration with the United Nations and other partners, to ensure that the priorities of its members are integrated into international agendas. 

The inauguration ceremony was also attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Bendito dos Santos Freitas, the Permanent Representative of Timor-Leste to the UN, Dionísio da Costa Babo Soares and the Secretary General of the g7+, Hélder da Costa.

The Vice Minister for ASEAN Affairs, Milena Rangel, represented Timor-Leste at the Ministerial Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement, held at the United Nations headquarters in New York. The meeting, under the theme ‘Protecting Civilians in Armed Conflict: Solidarity with the Palestinian People’, brought together representatives from several member states intending to strengthen the defence of the rights of the Palestinian people and debate concrete actions in favour of peace and security in the region. 

In her remarks, Vice-Minister Milena Rangel reaffirmed Timor-Leste’s commitment to the Ten Bandung Principles, highlighting the critical role of the Non-Aligned Movement in the defence of oppressed peoples, namely the Palestinian people. “The position of the Non-Aligned Movement is clear and unequivocal: we must defend the rights of the Palestinian people and ensure their protection following international law and humanitarian law. It is up to us to strengthen collective humanitarian assistance efforts and promote dialogue and diplomatic initiatives to achieve peace and reconciliation in the region”, said the Vice-Minister. 

During the meeting, strategies were discussed to intensify humanitarian assistance to Palestine, calling for respect for international human rights treaties and international legality in conflict areas. Milena Rangel also emphasised the importance of international solidarity as a fundamental element in resolving the conflict and building a future of lasting peace for the region’s people.