DILI, 16 april 2021(TATOLI)– The Ambassador of the United State (US) to Timor-Leste, Charles Kevin Blackstone met with Major General of Falintil-Forsa Defeza Timor-Leste (F-FDTL), Lere Anan Timur to Introduce cooperative working programs in the military area.
“I speak with Major Lere Anan Timur about the collaboration between the U.S and Timor-Leste in the military sector, and also discussed the assistance given to Timor-Leste for the construction of Baucau airport,” Ambassador Blackstone said.
Mr. Blackstone said the US is ready to collaborate with F-FDTL to realize the Joint Exercise program to contribute to building the F-FDTL.
Despite the world including Timor-Leste is also experiencing COVID-19, the working cooperatives are still being implemented and the important thing is to fulfill the rules of the world health organization.
“Although we are in the situation of COVID-19, the officials from the F-FDTL and also from the government will participate in the training in the US,” he said.
At the same time, the F-FDTL, Major Gen. Lere Anan Timur, is grateful for the support from the US for the help to improve F-FDTL’s resources.
“We discuss military cooperative techniques regarding training that have been carried out every year. Among them is the Exercise “Harii Hamutuk / Build Together” with the character of humanitarian assistance and the Exercise “Dalan ba Dame/road to peace” as a military cooperative and as the starting process for the construction of the Baucau airport “Lere said.
Lere added that the construction for Baucau Airport was supposed to start in 2020, but because it took time for the political negotiations thus the construction process was postponed to 2021.
Lere is very grateful because they have been able to implement the exercise of “Harii Hamutuk,” to increase the volume of work to provide support to the people of East Timor who suffer from natural disasters.
F-FDTL and the US Military will come together to the field to help the community, help build the schools that have been destroyed during the natural disaster, to help develop the country.
According to the plan, the F-FDTL will coordinate with the Australian Military, New Zealand, Portugal, and Japan for the construction of the new schools.
Journalist: Eugénio Pereira
Editor: Cipriano Colo
