The Secretary of State for the Council of Ministers and

Official Spokesperson for the Government of Timor-Leste

 

Díli, July 31, 2012

 

Emilia Pires appointed by the Secretary-General of United Nations Ban Ki-moon to High-level Panel of Eminent Persons on the post 2015 Development Agenda

 

The Government of Timor-Leste congratulates Her Excellency Emilia Pires on her appointment to the High-level Panel of Eminent Persons advising the United Nations on the global development agenda post 2015. Today the Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced the 26-member panel due to hold it’s first meeting in September. With the target date for the Millennium Development Goals approaching in 2015, Ms. Pires will be contributing to shaping the post MDG agenda with “the fight against poverty and sustainable development at its core.”

Ms. Pires brings to the role a wealth of experience including her five years as the Finance Minister in the IV Constitutional Government where she contributed to major economic reforms underpinning ongoing stability and accelerated development.  Since 2010 Ms Pires has been Chair of the g7+, championing the voice of conflict-affected and post conflict states. As Chair, she has worked closely with the People of Timor-Leste as well as other Nations, civil society, the private sector and international partners to identify ways to improve development partnerships and accelerate aid effectiveness. Amongst g7+ countries and in the wider international community, Ms. Pires is considered a fresh voice that is able to articulate the point of view of conflict-affected states with clarity and passion.

It is deeply symbolic that Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has invited such a voice on this important panel and a testament to the achievements Timor-Leste has made as a whole advancing from fragility to resilience, with ongoing stability, and increasing social and economic indicators.

The co-chairs of the High-level Panel of Eminent Persons are the President of the Republic of Indonesia, His Excellency Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the President of the Republic of Liberia, Her Excellency Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, His Excellency David Cameron.