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Press Release
Extraordinary Meeting of the Council of Ministers of September 12, 2019
The Council of Ministers met at the Government Palace in Dili and approved a vote of condolences for the death of the former President of the Republic of Indonesia, Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie.
In the vote of condolence, approved by the Council of Ministers, the Government of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste expresses deep regret with the news of the death of B. J. Habibie. At this moment of great consternation for the people of Indonesia, the Government of Timor-Leste presents its deepest condolences to the family of the esteemed former President of the Republic of Indonesia, Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie, associating themselves with their pain.
B. J. Habibie was the third President of the Republic of Indonesia in a mandate that began on the 21st of May 1998 and ended on the 20th of October 1999.
His very distinguished diplomatic capacity made him a fundamental part of the history of Timor-Leste, when he sent a request to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, on 27 January 1999, allowing the holding of a referendum in Timor-Leste. Though this referendum the Timorese people were able to exercise the right of self-determination and, by a large majority, decided for the independence of Timor-Leste in 1999.
The vote of condolence will be presented to the family of B. J. Habibie by the former President of the Republic of Timor-Leste, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão. ENDS