REPÚBLICA DEMOCRÁTICA DE TIMOR-LESTE

V Constitutional Government

SECRETARIAT OF STATE FOR THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS

PRESS RELEASE

Meeting of the Council of Ministers 05 November 2008

The Council of Ministers met this Wednesday, 05th November 2008, in the Council of Ministers meeting room, Government Palace, in Dili where it approved:

1. The Draft-Resolution that approves for ratification the Cooperation Agreement between the CPLP Member States to fight Malaria/Paludism.

The Cooperation Agreement between the Portuguese Language Speaking Countries (CPLP) to fight Malaria/Paludism aims to establish the general terms for a future cooperation in order to implement national programs to fight malaria/paludism.

2. Draft-Resolution that approves for Ratification the Cooperation Agreement Between the CPLP Member States in the Cinematography and Visual areas.

This Agreement aims to establish cooperation mechanisms between the Member States and joint actions so as to promote, develop, produce, distribute and exhibit cinematography and films, as well as recover, preserve and value cinematographic and audiovisual patrimony. Another aim is to adapt to new technologies so as to contribute to the development of this media sector within and outside the Portuguese speaking countries. The means used to disseminate the productions will be a Cinema Festival organised by CPLP.

3.Draft Resolution to Ratify the adherence to the Statutes of the Community of the Portuguese Speaking Countries.

The Statutes establish legal norms that should discipline and regulate both the relationships between the Member States of the CPLP and the goals of this international organisation, its headquarters, its principles and its organs.

4. Draft Resolution that approves for Ratification the Consular Cooperation Agreement between the Member States of the CPLP.

This Agreement establishes the consular protection to the citizens that are nationals of the Member States if requested, in the countries where they do not have consular representation. It should be implemented without prejudice of the disposed in other International Agreements that are celebrated between the Member States.

5. Draft Resolution that approves for Ratification the Visa Granting Agreement for Students that belong to the Member States of the CPLP.

Considering that one of the main goals of CPLP is the reinforcement of the friendship ties between the Portuguese speaking countries, this Agreement adopts common rules to grant Visas for Students that belong to the Member States, thus promoting measures that simplify the Citizenship and Circulation of people within the CPLP space.

6. Draft Resolution that approves for Ratification the Cooperation Protocol between the Member States of CPLP in the area of Public Security.

The protocol has the intention of promote, strengthen and make cohesive the cooperation in the area of policing; the dissemination of relevant informations on criminal activities, that are deemed necessary to control crime in the State Members; analyse common strategies to fight crime and promote the exchange of experience; the promotion of joint training and capacity building strategies and also multilateral cooperation strategies on specific issues.

7.Decree-Law that approves the Special Procurement Regime Autonomous Medical Stores (SAMES), EP

The aim of this Decree-Law is to establish the special procedures to acquire medication, medical consumables and medical equipment that is necessary to the the good working of the health system, as well as the execution of works that fall within the competences of SAMES.

The Council of Ministers also analysed:

1.Presentation by the World Bank of the survey: “Timor-Leste: poverty in a poor nation”

The purpose of this survey was to present the key-factors related to the poverty in Timor-Leste. Some of the streams connected to the basic needs are used to measure the definition of poverty. Poverty is measured in accordance to the per capita of each household. The poverty line is established at an energy intake below a specified threshold, such as 2100 kilocalories/capita/day, and this is the sum of what is established as “food” and “non-food”.

This report was based on the living standards survey and it is comparable to the survey that was done in 2001.

2. Decree-Law that creates the National Centre for Training and Employment (CNEFP) in Tibar

This Diploma creates the National Centre for Training and Employment, which in nature is a Public Institute with the aim to promote professional training, namely in the Construction Sector, and will be recognised as a reference centre in Timor-Leste, without prejudice of the Centre growing to include other other sectors. O CNEFP will have administrative and financial autonomy so that it can perform its duties with independence and exemption so as to ensure transparency and the sustained development of the Centre. It will be under the portfolio of the Member of Government responsible for Professional Training.

3.Decree-Law that approves the Organic Law of the Ministry of Finance

The organic law of the Ministry of Finance defines the structure, competencies and attributions of each of the Services in the Ministry of Finance, its approval will take place in the next Council of Ministers.