Minister of State and of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and
Official Spokesperson for the Government of Timor-Leste
Díli, April 1, 2014
Timor-Leste congratulates Sir Peter Cosgrove on his appointment as the Governor General of Australia
The Government of Timor-Leste congratulates Sir Peter Cosgrove on his appointment last week as the Governor General of Australia.
In 1999 Major General Peter Cosgrove was appointed commander of the International Peacekeeping Mission INTERFET. In this role he played a significant part in the stabilization of Timor-Leste from the beginning of his deployment in September of 1999 to the end of the INTERFET mission on 28th February 2000.
Major General Cosgrove, as he was then known, made a point of communicating closely with the Timorese leadership. He developed an enduring relationship with the Resistance Leader, now Prime Minister, H.E. Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, and always interacted with those around him in a dignified manner.
Prime Minister Gusmão noted “the respect Peter and I shared was mutual. We were both military Commanders and he understood well our 24 years of struggle and worked closely with us in difficult times to bring peace and dignity to our land.”
When Major General Cosgrove left Díli in September of 2000 he was presented with Commander in Chief Xanana’s FALINTIL uniform as a sign of respect and gratitude.
Peter Cosgrove returned to Díli in 2009 when he was presented the Collar of the Order of Timor-Leste by President José Ramos-Horta at the 10th Anniversary of the Popular Consultation held at the new Presidential Palace.
Recently in a letter of congratulations sent to Peter Cosgrove, Prime Minister Gusmão noted “With your long history of dedicated service to your nation, your record of achievement and your fine character, I know that you will perform your new role with dignity and success. Australia is fortunate to have someone of your experience and character as its next Governor General”.
On behalf of the Government and People, the Prime Minister has extended an invitation to Sir Peter to again visit the shores of Timor-Leste, this time in his new role as Governor General of Australia.