DILI, 09 november 2022 (TATOLI) – The Ambassador of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic to Timor-Leste, Boibait Malainin Boibuat, met today with the President of the Republic, José Ramos Horta, at the Presidential Palace, to discuss issues related to the self-determination of the country.
The aim of the meeting was to inform President Horta about the different aspects of the struggle of the Saharawi people to exercise freely their right to self-determination and to achieve full sovereignty of their territory.
“I thanked the Head of State, the Government, the National Parliament, political parties, civil society, and the Timorese people for their continued support in defending our people’s right to self-determination and independence,” Boibuat said.
Ambassador Boibuat praised the fact that the Timorese people are supporting self-determination and independence for the Sahrawi Arab, as the country has the same experiences as what Timor-Leste went through in the past.
The former President of the Republic, Francisco Guterres Lú Olo, at the 75th Session of the UN General Assembly in 2021, expressed his concern about the situation of the Saharawi people, considering at the time that “the United Nations mission was making unsatisfactory progress.”
Lú Olo had asked the UN to urgently appoint a Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General to the country to accelerate negotiations, with a view to finding a solution that would guarantee the Saharawi people the right to self-determination and independence in accordance with the United Nations Charter and other relevant resolutions.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Adaljiza Magno, said that although Timor-Leste has not yet signed an agreement with the Saharawi Arab Republic, it will continue to support the independence of the country.
Sahrawi Arab was a former Spanish colony, which proclaimed its independence on february 28, 1976. However, around 80% of its national territory is currently controlled by Morocco.
Jornalista: Afonso do Rosário
Editora: Maria Auxiliadora
Translation: Filomeno Martins
