It was in this way that the President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, Taur Matan Ruak, characterized the CPLP Bridge, at the inauguration held on July 22 in Dili.
The CPLP Bridge “is a symbol, a happy choice in recognition of the solidarity of friends and brothers of Timor-Leste who supported us during the liberation struggle. The CPLP is an identity and this is a bridge between Timor-Leste and brother nations across the seas, “stressed the President.
Taur Matan Ruak thanked the Government for building this infrastructure that is 180 meters long and was built in two phases to ensure the crossing between the two banks of the Comoro River, which runs across the capital of Timor-Leste.
Upon arrival to the inauguration, the Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, Xanana Gusmao, was warmly welcomed by the population gathered to watch the event.
On the eve of the Tenth Conference of Heads of State and Government of the CPLP, the other countries in this Community were also represented by high-level entities already in the country to participate in the summit: the President of the Republic of Cape Verde, Carlos Fonseca; the President of the Republic of Mozambique, Armando Guebuza; the President of the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Manuel Pinto da Costa; the Vice-President of the Republic of Angola, Manuel Domingos Vicente; the Prime Minister of Guinea-Bissau, Domingos Simões Pereira; the Prime Minister of Portugal, Pedro Passos Coelho; and the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brazil, Paulo Cordeiro de Andrade Pinto.
Also present were the Executive Secretary of CPLP, Murade Murargy; the President of the National Parliament of Angola and of the Parliamentary Assembly of the CPLP, Fernando Piedade dos Santos; members of V Constitutional Government of Timor-Leste and other Timorese entities as the President of the National Parliament, Vicente Guterres; the former Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri; the President of the Summit Preparatory Committee, Francisco Guterres Lu Olo, and the Bishop of Dili, Dom Alberto Ricardo, that at the end of the ceremony, blessed the CPLP Bridge.