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Dili, May 16th, 2017
Press Release
Council of Ministers meeting on May 16th, 2017
The Council of Ministers met on Tuesday at the Government Palace in Dili, and approved the Roadmap for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals – Agenda 2030, in Timor-Leste. The document, with roughly 50 pages, describes the steps, methodologies and institutional coordination necessary for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Timor-Leste. It links the goals and priorities of the Strategic Development Plan 2011-2030 (SDP) with the SDGs, in order to achieve effective progress in sustainable development. On May 23rd it will be analysed in the Global Conference of Agenda 2030: A Roadmap for SDGs in Fragile and Conflict-Affected States. The programme for this Conference, taking place in Dili in the margins of the Restoration of Independence celebrations, was presented to the Council of Ministers by the Prime Minister’s Office.
Also presented at this meeting, by the Organizing Committee of the events, was the programme for the ceremonies to commemorate the 15th Anniversary of the Restoration of Independence and the inauguration of the President of the Republic.
The Minister of State Coordinator for Economic Affairs and Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, proposed the second amendment of Government Decree no. 2/2005, of July 6th, on fishing license fees, inspections and services relating to fishing activities, which was approved. This amendment adjusts the fees applicable to commercial fishing and the issuing of certificates of quality and analysis of fish so that they are in line with those being practiced in the international market. The main aims of the amendment are to the increase Government revenues from fisheries and maintain the sustainability of fishing activities.
The Draft Law on Health, Safety and Hygiene at Work, presented by the Secretary of State for Employment Policy and Vocational Training, and with the amendments suggested by the members of the Council of Ministers in this year’s January 31st meeting, was approved. This text fulfils paragraph 2 of article 50 of the Constitution and the Labour Law, regarding the conditions associated with the health of workers, users and consumers, following the policies of the World Health Organization.
The Ministry of Finance proposed an amendment to the Government Decree on the State’s Budget Execution for 2017 which was approved. The amendment allows the Ministry of Social Solidarity, or appointed authority, to carry out the functions of the National Institute for Social Security, IP, which is not yet fully operational, to temporarily assume the execution and overall management of the Social Security Budget.
The Council of Ministers adopted amendments to the Registration and Contributory Obligation System, proposed by the legal services of the Presidency of the Republic, under the framework for legislation promulgation, to enable the application of the Social Security System, approved last October by the National Parliament, which shall come into force in August 2017.
The proposal of the Ministry of Tourism for the allocation of funds for the Construction of the National Library, whose creation was approved in 2016, was approved. To this end, an agreement was concluded with the National Petroleum and Minerals Authority and ENI JPDA, partners in the construction of the building and surrounding spaces.
The proposal of the Ministry of Defence regarding the personnel to incorporate in FALINTIL – Defence Forces of Timor-Leste from 2018, in accordance with the law and with the strategic guidelines (FORCE 2020) for the development of the institution, was approved. From 2018 onwards 600 new personnel will be incorporated into the F-FDTL. These men and women will join with the rank of soldiers and corporals.
The Council of Ministers approved the the letter granting full powers for the signature of the Cooperation Framework Programme in the Defence Field, between the Ministry of National Defence of the Republic of Portugal and the Ministry of Defence of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste for the period 2017-2021. The first Cooperation Framework Agreement between the two countries was signed on May 20th, 2002, aligning strategic objectives for the overall cooperation between Timor-Leste and Portugal. The Framework Programme for the next five years includes several cooperation projects, with a focus on capacity building, training of human resources and the use of the Portuguese language.
The National Council of Youth Development was approved, fulfilling the Strategic Development Plan, which puts youth as a priority for the development of the country. This text defines the powers, composition and functioning of this body, which will ensure the coordination between the different public and private entities involved in this area. Its mission is to ensure the preparation of policies and the implementation of the national action plans related to the strategies approved in the National Youth Policy.
The Ministry of Health proposed and had approved the signing of two agreements: a Memorandum of Understanding with the Republic of India in the area of Health Care and Public Health, to improve the quality of human resources, materials and existing infrastructures in health care, medical education and training, including traditional and complementary medicine and research, in both countries; and a Memorandum of Understanding with the Republic of Indonesia in the area of Health, with special emphasis on education and training.
The Council of Ministers reviewed the proposals made by Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO) for the candidacy for the post of Director-General of the organization. The election will take place in the 70th meeting of the World Health Assembly, on May 23rd in Geneva.
Approval was given to the signing of the Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation with the Government of the People’s Republic of China, for the implementation of projects in the areas of health and education, presented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation.
Taking into account the challenges that will arise in preparing the Rectification Budget for 2017 and the General State Budget for 2018, with the inauguration of the new government before the end of the fiscal year, the Council of Ministers instructed the Ministry of Finance to prepare a document summarising the national priorities defined in the Strategic Development Plan and in the Sustainable Development Goals and plan to ensure the continuity of policies such as the“Bolsa da Mãe” and pensions, among others, in order to facilitate the preparation of the State Budget by the new Government.
The project to set up the Information and Communication Technology Agency of Timor-Leste, to manage the computer network of the Government and other public entities, was also analysed. ENDS