Minister of State and of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and

Official Spokesperson for the Government of Timor-Leste

Díli, October 20, 2014

Timor-Leste congratulates His Excellency President Joko Widodo

The Government of Timor-Leste congratulates H.E. Joko Widodo on the occasion of his inauguration today as the 7th President of the Republic of Indonesia.

Timor-Leste and Indonesia enjoy an extremely rich and multi faceted bilateral relationship which is set to continue to develop positively under the leadership of President Widodo. The Prime Minister of Timor-Leste, H.E. Xanana Gusmão noted recently in his speech to the United Nations General Assembly that “with its pluralistic and tolerant society, Indonesia is more than a close neighbor. Indeed, it is an inspiration for Timor-Leste”.

He explained further in recent days that “Today, the Republic of Indonesia and the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste are two sovereign States that respect each other and place as a fundamental basis for their relations of cooperation, the spirit of brotherhood and the principle of equal to equal, and above all, the value of sincerity in our acts for the greater interests of our Peoples.”

The Government of Timor-Leste looks forward to the continuing development of the already excellent bilateral relationship under the leadership of President Widodo and conveys its respect and congratulations to His Excellency the President and to the Nation on this important occasion in the history of the Republic of Indonesia.

Timor-Leste’s Head of State, His Excellency President Taur Matan Ruak, has represented Timor-Leste in Jakarta at the inauguration with Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, H.E. Constancio Pinto, representing the Government of Timor-Leste.