DILI, 13 december 2021 ( TATOLI)- The new Envoys accredited to Timor-Leste, from the Republic of Indonesia has today presented a letters of credence to the President of Republic of Timor-Leste, Francisco Guterres Lú Olo at a ceremony held at the Presidential Palace.
“I attend the ceremony with the President of the Republic. We received a letter of credentials from the new Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia,” Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (MNEC), Adaljiza Albertina Xavier Reis Magno commented on the ceremony.
Magno said during the meeting the Ambassadors also pledged to strengthen relations between their countries and Timor-Leste in various areas to further consolidate the brotherly relations between the two nations.
Magno underlined the statement of the newly appointed Ambassador, Okto Dorinus Manik who said that the Indonesian government is committed to maintaining, fostering, and strengthening the bilateral cooperation that has existed so far, especially cooperation in the trade sector.
“Almost 80% of basic needs are imported from Indonesia. For this reason, it is necessary to increase cooperation between the two countries in the economic field,” said Magno.
According to Magno, they have also discussed extensively the deployment of Timor-Leste troops in the land border area to strengthen border security.
“The Indonesian government highly respects the decisions and policies of the Government of Timor Leste as well as gives appreciation to the Government of Timor Leste in efforts to handle COVID-19 in Timor Leste,”
The newly appointed Indonesian Ambassador, Okto Dorinus Manik was inaugurated along with 16 other Indonesian Ambassadors on October 25, 2021, by the President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta-Indonesia.
Okto Dorinus Manik replaces his predecessor Sahat Sitorus, the former Indonesian Ambassador to Timor-Leste, who completed his diplomatic mission in Timor-Leste in September 2021.
Ambassador Okto is the fifth Indonesian Ambassador to Timor Leste since the two countries established bilateral relations after the restoration of Timor Leste’s independence on May 20, 2002.
The other four Indonesian Ambassadors who have started their probationary period in Dili include Ahmad Bey Sofwan, Eddy Setiabudhi, Marcellinus Primanto Hendrasmoro, and Sahat Sitorus.
Okto Dorinus Manik served as Head of the Legal and Administrative Bureau of the Ministry and Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia in 2019.
Journalist : Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Nelia B
