East Timor Looks To Pacific Co-operation

East Timor is hoping to establish diplomatic ties and co-operation with Pacific Island countries.

In a statement, His Excellency, the President of the Republic of East Timor, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao said he was thankful that Pacific Island states were present in East Timor to witness the country’s accession to independence two months ago.

H.E Gusmao also thanked Fiji, Samoa and Vanuatu for the generous contribution made with the army and police contingents for the maintenance of peace and law and order in East Timor.

“We are now looking forward to the establishment of diplomatic ties and cooperation between our countries both on bi-lateral level and through existing multi-lateral and regional mechanisms.

“We experience similar challenges in nation-building, institution and capacity-building and share the same vision of peace, eradicating poverty, empowering the poor and our women,” H.E Gusmao said.

H.E Gusmao also took the opportunity to pay tribute to the African continent for their historic founding of the African Union, which he said was a shared dream of hundreds of millions of peoples.