DILI, 04 november 2024 (TATOLI) – The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Timor-Leste to the Republic of Indonesia, Roberto Soares, officially presented his credentials to the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto.
Ambassador Soares took the opportunity to extend special greetings from the President of the Republic, José Ramos-Horta and the Prime Minister, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão to President Subianto, and wished good health and success to the President, and assured that Timor-Leste will continue to uphold its foreign policy, maintaining friendly relations and special cooperation with neighboring countries, especially with the Republic of Indonesia.
In a brief interview with the media, Ambassador Soares said that during his mandate he will strive to further strengthen bilateral relations and cooperation between Timor-Leste and Indonesia.
The Ambassador also reiterated that bilateral relations and cooperation with Indonesia are multifaceted and cover all sectors:
- Politics, defence, security and immigration;
- Trade, industry and investment;
- Education, health, vocational training programs, sociocultural and people-to-people relations;
- Safeguarding independence, sovereignty and national integrity, as well as reconciliation between Timor-Leste and Indonesia is an important part of the relationship between the two countries, and the reconciliation process is also a global model.
Ambassador Soares also said that accession to ASEAN is also an important commitment that Timor-Leste has made to contribute to regional peace and stability, as well as economic growth in Southeast Asia.
Soares said that he will do his utmost to work closely with his Indonesian counterparts and dialogue partners in Jakarta to ensure Timor-Leste’s accession to ASEAN.
Soares also expressed his confidence in the commitment and wisdom of the leadership of the two countries to ensure Timor-Leste’s regional identity, as well as to ensure the resolution of residual bilateral issues, particularly on the land and maritime borders in accordance with the principle of “uti possidetis juris”, the UNCLOS and relevant international law.
Journalist: Jose Belarmino de Sa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
