DILI, 25 March 2025 (TATOLI) – A delegation from Portugal’s National Republican Guard (GNR), led by Lieutenant General Rui Veloso and in the presence of the Portuguese Ambassador to Timor-Leste, Manuela Bairos, met with the President of the Republic, José Ramos Horta, to discuss strengthening the cooperation with the National Police of Timor-Leste (PNTL).
“The President praised the presence of the GNR and all the cooperation that the institution has provided to Timor-Leste. We also discussed other forms of cooperation for the future, particularly at the police level,” Lieutenant General Rui Veloso said after the meeting with the head of state at the Presidential Palace in Dili.
The leader recalled that the GNR has been collaborating with the Timor-Leste authorities for around 25 years, saying that the aim of the meeting was precisely to strengthen the cooperation.
“We believe that this collaboration can be increased at a local level, namely with the police, to move forward with community policing programs and to extend the work to other more specific areas, such as the environment and borders,” Rui Veloso said.
Recorded that last year the Head of the Civil House of the Presidency of the Republic, Jesuína Gomes, representing José Ramos Horta, awarded the Medal of Merit to GNR Captain Carlos Isidoro Jesus Batista in recognition of his contribution to strengthening the capabilities of the PNTL Special Unit.
Journalist: Afonso do Rosario / Translator : Camilio de Sousa
Editor : Isaura Lemos/Rafael Ximenes de A. Belo
