The UN Secretary-General was received at the airport by Timorese President José Ramos-Horta and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão with full military honors and musical celebrations.
Welcome to the public
Thousands of people lined the streets of the capital Dili as children greeted Mr Guterres holding the UN and Timor-Leste flags.
At the presidential palace, he said his visit was a show of solidarity.
“The United Nations and the people of Timor have stood side by side as the country forged its own destiny.. The United Nations will continue to support the aspirations of the Timorese people in the road ahead.”
At a press conference, Mr. Guterres speak Asian countries will speak out at Summit of the Futurewill be held at the United Nations headquarters in September, “because the world can learn a lot from Timor-Leste”, he said.
The development battle continues
Referring to the extensive consultations organized by the United Nations that led to the country’s independence, he said today’s historic milestone was “a call to unity and to honor our shared past”.
Mr. Guterres described Timor-Leste as an example of how to develop into a peaceful country, born from an armed struggle in 2002 and now able to live peacefully with its neighbors.
He praised the country as a “unified democracy” that respects human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Historical Anchor Support
The United Nations played a key role before and after independence, deploying a transitional government in what was then known as East Timor in 1992, to establish the country as a self-governing state, which finally took place ten years after the former rulers of Indonesia and Portugal reached an agreement for the people of East Timor to hold a referendum.
As an independent nation, Timor-Leste joined the United Nations and a new mission was established to support its development, including a new framework put in place for four years from 2015.
The United Nations has more than 20 resident and non-resident agencies supporting the country, allowing the Organization to play a policy development and advocacy role at all levels.
The Secretary-General traveled to Timor-Leste to attend the 25th anniversary of the referendum.
The battle for development
“Timor-Leste won the war for independence, Timor-Leste won the war for democracy, Timor-Leste is a model country in terms of human rights, But it must also win the development battle.”, he said.
He added that the United Nations will continue to work with Timor Leste to help them win the fight for food security, education, affordable health services for all and improved infrastructure.
Dialogue on Myanmar
He praised President Ramos-Horta for his perseverance in the past, even in the most difficult circumstances, “with the belief that Timor-Leste’s independence will eventually become a reality.”.
Mr Guterres noted that the thousands of young people he saw on the streets of the capital had not yet personally experienced the “heroic struggle of resistance” that paved the way for the independence referendum to take place.
Never forget
He said it was important that they and future generations not forget this war.
The two leaders pledged to establish dialogue and cooperation regarding the crisis in Myanmar sparked by the 2021 military coup and subsequent brutal crackdown, as well as address other peace and security issues of mutual concern.
The Secretary-General also expressed “deep gratitude for the warm welcome and excellent hospitality” he received in Timor-Leste.
