DILI, 13 may 2024 (TATOLI) – This year marks the 22nd anniversary of diplomatic relations between Cuba and Timor-Leste. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, Cuba has given significant support to Timor-Leste’s development, particularly in the health, education, and sports sectors.
In a press conference, the Cuban Ambassador to Timor-Leste, Grisel Innis, emphasized that through relations with Timor-Leste, Cubans “gain friends, brothers and sisters, and family, and they bring with them medical collaboration to the country, they bring with them the affection and solidarity of the Timorese people, as well as knowledge of the Tetum language.”
The diplomat also recalled that cooperation between the two countries began in 2003, with a meeting between former Cuban President Fidel Castro and his Timorese counterpart at the time, Xanana Gusmão, along with a delegation that included Mari Alkatiri, José Ramos Horta, and Rui Maria de Araújo, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Since then, 1,600 young Timorese have been sent to attend medical training at different Cuban universities.
In the field of education, the diplomat said that the Cuban government has also collaborated in the literacy program Yes, I Can to support the Timorese government in combating illiteracy in the country.
According to the ambassador, Cuba’s collaboration with Timor-Leste also includes sports consultancy, agriculture, as well as arts and culture.
Innis said that these programs had been signed with the aim of sending young Timorese to attend higher education courses in that country.
‘We wish Timor-Leste a long life, its leaders, and the bonds of friendship between the two countries. As Commander Fidel Castro said, one-day Timor-Leste will be the Lighthouse of Alexandria for the entire region, where Cuba has contributed its grain of sand,’ she concluded.
As of july last year, the Cuban government had awarded scholarships to 1,530 Timorese young people and doctors.
Journalist: Jose Belarmino de Sa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
