Minister of State and of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and
Official Spokesperson for the Government of Timor-Leste
Díli, November 24, 2014
Portugal’s Minister of Defence to visit Timor-Leste as a part of ongoing bilateral cooperation
The Defence Minister of Portugal, H.E. José Pedro Aguiar-Branco, is set to visit Timor-Leste on the 25th and 26th of November. Minister Aguiar-Branco will engage in a number of meetings including a bilateral meeting with Timor-Leste’s Prime Minister and Minister of Defence and Security, H.E. Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão and Secretary of State for Defence, H.E. Júlio Tomás Pinto.
Portugal has assisted in the development and professionalization of the Timor-Leste Defence Force [F-FDTL] since independence and is a valued partner in initiatives including the provision of advisors, assistance with basic training and training within Portugal of selected Timorese officers and officials. Cooperation in the sector has been defined by a number of agreements beginning with the Framework Agreement on Cooperation between the Portuguese Republic and the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste signed in Díli on the day of the restoration of Independence, 20th of May 2002. The Framework Program for Technical Military Cooperation covering the period 2014-2016 was signed earlier this year in Lisbon on February 5th, 2014.
During the visit of H.E. José Pedro Aguiar-Branco a Memorandum of Understanding is to be signed regarding the Portuguese Language Centre in Metinaro. Based in the Metinaro Training Center, the mission of the Centre will be to promote the teaching of Portuguese language to the military though the creation of language courses and other complementary activities. Timor-Leste will fund the construction and equipping of the Centre and Portugal will advise on the construction and equipment and create the programs and educational content. Trainers and mentors are to be supplied by Portugal with details to be defined in an agreement to follow.
Spokesperson Agio Pereira noted “the assistance in the defence sector is greatly appreciated by the Government and the members of the Defense Force of Timor-Leste. The Government looks forward to welcoming Minister Aguiar-Branco to Timor-Leste.”