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

Official Spokesperson for the Government of Timor-Leste

 

 Díli, February 6, 2015

The Government of Timor-Leste convenes a Development Dialogue on Leadership and Democratic Transition

 

On Friday at the Dili Convention Centre the Government of Timor-Leste convened a Dialogue on Leadership and Democratic Transition focusing on Insights from Asia. The meeting provided an opportunity to consider the experiences of Timor-Leste in the wider context of the development trajectory of other countries in the region, with a particular focus on Singapore.

H.E. Dr. Noeleen Heyzer, Under Secretary of the United Nations and the United Nations Secretary General’s Special Advisor for Timor-Leste introduced the keynote speaker, Professor Kishore Mahbubani, the Dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore.

Professor Mahbubani, an expert on “Rising Asia” began by noting his initial connection with Timor-Leste in 2002 when he met leaders Gusmão and Alkatiri at a debate at the United Nations in 2002. His presentation concentrated on what he regarded as the ten main reasons for Singapore’s success.

A high level dialogue was a feature of the program and included the Prime Minister of Timor-Leste, H.E. Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, former Prime Minister and current President of the Authority of the Special Administrative Region of Oe-Cusse Ambeno, H.E. Dr. Mari Alkatiri and Professor Mahbubani, with Dr. Helder da Costa, General Secretary of the g7+ Secretariat as Moderator. Members of the audience were also able to ask questions. Answers referred to the minimum of 30 to 40 years needed to build state institutions, the time needed to consolidate the nation state when you have a multi cultural society, preparation for ASEAN and the value of compromise amongst leaders in the early states of development.

Spokesperson for the Fifth Constitutional Government, Minister of State Agio Pereira, noted “the dialogue allowed us to consider our development within the context of Singapore, to learn from their experience and reflect on our own with fresh perspective.” He thanked Dr. Noeleen Heyzer for her contribution as the Secretary General’s Special Advisor for Timor-Leste.