DILI, 14 October 2025 (TATOLI) — Timor-Leste has urged stronger international cooperation to eradicate the remaining vestiges of colonialism, calling for inclusive, research-based, and sustainable approaches to support the world’s 17 Non-Self-Governing Territories.
In a statement delivered by Ambassador Dionísio Babo Soares, Permanent Representative of Timor-Leste to the United Nations, at the Fourth Committee of the 80th Session of the General Assembly, the country expressed “profound gratitude to all Member States for their recognition of its role in hosting the C-24 Pacific Regional Seminar in Dili.”
Ambassador Babo Soares reaffirmed Timor-Leste’s “solidarity with the 17 remaining Non-Self-Governing Territories” and outlined key priorities to advance decolonization. These include enhancing diplomatic monitoring, promoting economic empowerment, strengthening human rights protections, and fostering inclusive negotiations that “ensure outcomes reflect the genuine will of affected peoples.”
Western Sahara
On the issue of Western Sahara, Timor-Leste called for strengthening the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) by adding a dedicated human rights monitoring component. The statement also urged “unimpeded humanitarian access and robust diplomatic dialogue,” emphasizing adherence to international law and relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
Ambassador Babo Soares stressed that “in order to find a peaceful and permanently acceptable solution for the issue of Western Sahara, any proposed solution should depend solely on the people of Western Sahara through a free and fair referendum, rather than the preferences of external parties.”
The Palestinian Question
Addressing the Palestinian issue, Timor-Leste welcomed “recent international efforts, including those by the United States, to foster peace,” and reaffirmed its support for a two-state solution that recognizes Israel’s right to exist alongside an independent Palestinian state. The statement emphasized that this approach aims to “promote peaceful coexistence and address historical injustices,” while calling for sustained diplomacy and targeted humanitarian aid to resolve core disputes.
Falkland Islands (Malvinas) and Gibraltar
On the Falkland Islands (Malvinas), Timor-Leste urged the resumption of bilateral negotiations between Argentina and the United Kingdom in accordance with UN General Assembly resolutions. It called for “a peaceful settlement that respects the interests of the islands’ inhabitants and adheres to the principle of self-determination.”
Regarding Gibraltar, the country encouraged “constructive dialogues between Spain and the United Kingdom,” ensuring that the “views of Gibraltarians are integral to the process.”
Pacific Territories
Timor-Leste also drew attention to the situation in French Polynesia and New Caledonia, urging peaceful and lawful resolutions through dialogue and referenda that respect the rights of local populations.
Commitment to Decolonization
Reaffirming its steadfast commitment to the global decolonization agenda, Timor-Leste pledged continued cooperation, knowledge-sharing, and technical assistance “to help all peoples achieve self-governance, peace, and sustainable development under the guiding principles of the United Nations.”
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