The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Hernâni Coelho, has chaired the Ministerial Meeting of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries [CPLP] in New York City.

Foreign Ministers of the CPLP countries, along with their Permanent Representatives to the United Nations and the Executive Secretary of the CPLP, Ambassador Murade Murargy, participated in the meeting hosted by the Mission of Timor-Leste and held at the UN Headquarters on the 30^th of September.

After introductory remarks by Minister Hernâni Coelho and Executive Secretary Murade Murargy an update on the situation in Guinea-Bissau was presented by the CPLP Special Representative. Member states discussed the current situation, encouraging the formation of government as soon as possible. It was proposed that a CPLP delegation should visit soon after the inauguration of the new government.

São Tomé and Príncipe then briefed the participants on an international conference set to take place in London in the coming weeks. It was explained that the conference will bring together investors and bilateral and multilateral support partners to discuss financing for development.

The group also discussed other issues to be dealt with in an extraordinary meeting of the Council of Ministers in Lisbon in March 2016 and at the Conference of Heads of State and Government in June 2016 in Brazil.

Minister Hernâni Coelho closed the meeting and then attended to media obligations.

In the United Nations setting the Minster of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation attended nearly all of the meetings and events, making for a very busy schedule that allows for many opportunities to connect with counterparts and enhance the bilateral relationships of Timor-Leste.