Minister of State and of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and
Official Spokesperson for the Government of Timor-Leste
Dili, September 21st, 2015
Prime Minister and delegation to travel to the United Nations in New York
Tomorrow the Prime Minister, H.E. Dr. Rui Maria de Araújo, along with a high level delegation, will fly out of Dili on route to the United States of America to participate in key events taking place in New York over the coming days.
The Prime Minister is accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, H.E. Hernâni Coelho and the Minister of Planning and Strategic Investment H.E. Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão. The delegation travelling to New York also includes former President H.E. Dr. José Ramos Horta, the Governor of the Central Bank of Timor-Leste, Abraão de Vasconcelos, and officials from the Maritime Boundary Office and the g7+ Secretariat. The Prime Minister will travel with his wife Dr. Teresa Madeira Soares.
The two central events in this visit to New York are the United Nations summit to adopt the post-2015 development agenda, running from the 25th to the 27th of September, and the 70th United Nations General Assembly which begins on the 28th of September and includes the Prime Minister’s statement of behalf of Timor-Leste delivered to world leaders on the 1st of October.
Timor-Leste has been deeply involved in the process leading to the adoption of what will be known as the Sustainable Development Goals, working to make sure they address the needs of smaller states and that they are sensitive to the context of nations emerging from conflict. Over 150 world leaders will be present in this historic occasion to adopt this successor to the Millennium Development Goals, a “plan of action for people, planet and prosperity” which will guide the activities of the international community over the next 15 years.
Besides being active in these two central events the Prime Minister, Ministers and broader delegation will be involved in over twenty associated events during the visit to promote Timor-Leste’s interests within the international setting of the United Nations.
The Prime Minister will speak at many events including the launch of a Political Initiative in support of the Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, a Summit Dialogue on Building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions to achieve sustainable development, a Global Leaders Meeting on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment, a side event on Timor-Leste and UN Relations, and a World Leaders Forum lecture at Columbia University on “Global Challenges and small nations.”
Other important events for Timor-Leste will involve the CPLP, the g7+ and the Maritime Boundary Office who will present a roundtable event in conjunction with the International Peace Institute on securing Timor-Leste’s sovereignty on the land and in the sea.
In addition will be key one-on-one meetings with the President of Portugal, H.E. Aníbal Cavaco Silva and the United Nations Secretary General, Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, interviews with prominent global media representatives, a presentation of the Order of Timor-Leste to H.E. Ambassador Robert Van Lierop and Professor Noam Chomsky, and participation in various receptions hosted by the President of the United States, the President of South Africa, the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea.
Prime Minister Araújo will depart New York on the 2nd of October for an Official Visit to Cuba and is due to return to Dili on the 8th of October.
Spokesperson for the Sixth Constitutional Government, Minister of State Agio Pereira noted “the delegation has a heavy schedule ahead of them and we wish them well as they advance the cause of Timor-Leste within the community of nations. Being a member state of the United Nations carries both responsibilities and opportunities, and as part of an ever more globalized world we must fulfill those responsibilities and firmly take hold of each opportunity on offer in New York to promote our country, speaking clearly and with dignity in this international arena.” END