Your Excellency The President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
On behalf of the Royal Thai Government and the Thai people, it is my great honour and pleasure to welcome Your Excellency to Thailand. This is indeed the first high-level visit of my administration as well as Your Excellency’s first Official Visit to the Kingdom of Thailand as President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste. This visit thus symbolises the importance placed on our two countries’ friendship, sustained by our close cooperation, partnership and shared values.
In the past, Thailand stepped in to help appease conflicts in Timor-Leste under ASEAN and UN Frameworks. Our country appreciates that this decision to undertake an unconventional stance in that particular situation has gained us a true friend in Timor-Leste and laid a firm foundation for our present relations.
As Your Excellency’s visit also takes place shortly after Thailand has emerged from a recent period of political challenges, this sign of support also demonstrates that Thailand and Timor-Leste are not just ordinary friends, but friends who stand by each other in difficult times.
Your Excellency,
We recognise that Timor-Leste as a new nation is no stranger to challenges. Your own efforts to achieve a just and peaceful solution to the conflict in East Timor have been internationally recognised by the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1996. That recognition has truly inspired us all and serves as a testament to your relentless efforts and determination to build a better future for the Timorese people.
Despite your efforts to bring peace and stability to Timor-Leste, the unfortunate event last year - the attempted assassination of Your Excellency - reminds us of the grim reality that violence still persists, and the way to fight such violence is to stand united and speak in one voice to oppose such violence. We can take the failure of this assassination attempt and turn it into a lesson -- or even a blessing in disguise -- in that it can serve as a constant and forceful reminder that we still need to do more in order to eliminate such violence. Thailand is relieved that Your Excellency is safe and has recovered from this shocking incident. We are pleased that the situation in Timor-Leste has now been restored to a more peaceful state.
With Your Excellency’s leadership, I am certain that peace will be sustained and Timor-Leste will continue to prosper economically, not least because of the abundance natural resources in your country, as well as the recent discovery of marine natural resources in Wetar and Ombai Straits. Such a discovery also highlights the richness of marine natural resources and marine biodiversity in our region, 'inheritable' assets which deserve to be cherished, further explored and utilised in a sustainable manner, and protected for future generations.
It was in 2002 when the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste joined the United Nations as a newly independent nation, and in the nearly seven years since its independence, Timor-Leste has been constructing a future, one that is defined by greater freedom and prosperity. Last year, the economic growth of Timor-Leste was at a very impressive rate of 10%, and this year it is expected to increase even further.
Thailand is proud to be part of Timor-Leste’s efforts at nation-building. Looking around this room, Your Excellency will find many familiar faces of 'friends of Timor-Leste' : General Songkitti Chakkabatr, the Supreme Commander, General Boonsrang Niumpradit, former Supreme Commander, to name but a few.
Your Excellency,
In our meeting today, we had a very fruitful discussion on bilateral cooperation and how to forge a closer partnership between our two countries. I wish to reiterate once again Thailand’s readiness to continue and to expand technical cooperation in areas necessary for the future development of Timor-Leste, including agriculture and energy. The Memorandum of Understanding on Economic and Technical Cooperation between our two Ministries of Foreign Affairs will certainly be extended. The Memorandum of Understanding on Joint Cooperation in Energy Development signed earlier this morning between His Excellency Mr. Alfredo Pires, Secretary of State for Natural Resources of Timor-Leste and Mr. Prasert Bunsamphan, President and CEO of the PTT Public Company Limited of Thailand, is a reflection of our determination to move towards more concrete cooperation.
Tomorrow, His Majesty the King of Thailand will graciously grant an audience to Your Excellency at Klai Kangwol Palace in Hua Hin. This is the highest honour accorded to a visiting dignitary, and it is a symbolic gesture which signifies the continued friendship of our two countries and peoples, one which will continue to prosper and grow for years to come.
Your Excellency,
Moving on to an issue beyond our bilateral cooperation but one of mutual interest, ASEAN, I wish to point out that Thailand has always been supportive of enhanced engagements between Timor-Leste and ASEAN. Thailand welcomes Timor-Leste’s active participation in the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and its accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC). We support Timor-Leste’s bid to become a member of ASEAN by 2012. I recall that this was an initiative of Your Excellency when you were Prime Minister. As ASEAN Chair, Thailand looks forward to Timor-Leste attending the 42nd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM) as guest of the Chair, and participating in the 16th ARF meeting in Thailand later this year. Thailand also looks forward to welcoming Timor-Leste into the ASEAN family as a full member in the future.
Excellencies,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Once again, please allow me to reaffirm the special relations that bind our two countries. May I now invite all of you to join me in a toast for the good health, happiness and success of His Excellency Dr. Jos? Ramos-Horta, President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, as well as to the ever-lasting friendship between our two countries and peoples.
Thank you.
Prime Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Press Division, Department of Information Tel.(02) 643-5170
Fax. (02) 643-5169 E-mail : div0704@mfa.go.th End.