Statement by the Spokesperson of the IV Constitutional Government on October 9, 2009
Statement By The Spokesperson of the IV Constitutional Government,
The Secretary of State for the Council of Ministers
Díli- October 9, 2009
Timor-Leste represented at the Annual World Bank and IMF Governors Meeting
A delegation led by The Minister for Finance of Timor-Leste, Ms. Emilia Pires, and accompanied by The Minister of Economy and Development, Mr. Joao Gonçalves represented Timor-Leste at the Annual World Bank (WB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Annual Governors Meeting, in Istanbul, on October 6 and 7, 2009.
Ms. Pires submitted a country message on behalf of the nation which outlined the Government’s commitment to participate and work with the international community in reforming and strengthening the global financial architecture.
The country statement said “Ultimately, the global crisis like the current financial and environmental crisis will have to be dealt with by re-looking at global institutions to better prepare them for the challenges of the 21st century.’
‘2009 has shown us that market failure deeply affects us all. Be it in the field of financial economics, the environment or gender we realize that we need to plan carefully. We need to have short term strategies that shield our most vulnerable people and long term solutions that can hopefully ensure these problems do not beset future generations’
Ms. Pires took the opportunity to encourage greater representation of developing nations in the governance of the IFI’s (International Financial Institutions), Financial institutions like the WB, IMF and other multilateral development banks who deal with emerging economies.
The Timor-Leste delegation also held bilateral meetings with the World Bank and the IMF discussing opportunities to share analytical capacity and the opportunity of conducting a new poverty study in coordination with the 2010 census to gain insight into the state of the country under the new social and fiscal policies of the IV Constitutional Government.
The delegation also requested that the World Bank include Timor-Leste in the annual publication of World Development Indicators, given that Timor-Leste has a population of over 1.1 million.The delegation welcomed the new Country Director of Timor-Leste, Mr. Ferid Belhaj. Mr. Belhaj will be replacing Mr. Nigel Roberts, who will remain a long time friend to Timor-Leste.
Agio Pereira, The Secretary of State for the Council of Ministers and Official Spokesperson for the Fourth Constitutional Government said “These meetings are not only important for Timor-Leste to become an active and respected part of the global community, but to represent our national interests; the needs of our country and the needs of our people. Our sole purpose is to alleviate poverty by becoming a nation that can thrive independently. I believe this is our collective vision for the nation”
