Maliana – (16th of November 2023), the President of the Republic of Timor-Leste, H.E. José Ramos Horta, recommended the IX Government through the Ministry of Youth for Arts and Culture, the Secretariat of States for Arts and Culture, and Centro Nacional Chega! I.P. to promote reconciliation dialogue.
The informed recommendation by the head of the state at the opening ceremony on seminars and dialogue held at Gymnasium Hall of Maliana, Bobonaro, in the context of the 2023 Border Festival “Cultural Exchange to Strengthen Reconciliation.”
The head of state added that this reconciliation was made for the Timorese in Timor-Leste and Timor Occidental regarding past conflict from 1974-1999 due to the political difference to strengthen reconciliation.
The head of state said he (the President of the Republic) and the Prime Minister, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão often discussed reconciliation for 20 years on how the Timorese come together healing the past, accepting and embracing one another on the past conflict from 1974-1999 to create peace and reconciliation for the future development within the country.
“Our Prime Minister, HE. Xanana Gusmão and I often talked about healing the past and embracing one another within the country among politicians and Timorese to be quiet, reinforce peace, and deepen the reconciliation and development.” He explained.
Thus, the importance of the 2023 Border Festival is a means of reinforcing reconciliation among people in Timor Occidental, East Nusa Tenggara (ENT/NTT), Indonesia, and Timor-Leste to meet, interact, and know one another to build friendship and fraternity.
“The Timorese were born in Timor Occidental and are Indonesian citizens but have historic roots/origin, blood, and cultural roots from Timor-Leste. We proceed with this process of reconciliation dialogue.” Head of state recommended.
Timor-Leste and Indonesia have good cooperation in all areas, including economics. To run the development improvement, we must build peace. As citizens, we find all means to deepen reconciliation among communities living on the borderline.
He set an example; there are too many conflicts around the world among countries and countries, and thousands of people die; children, women, and mothers die every day in the war. However, we might say that Timor-Leste is pleased to live peacefully so far.
Today, the relationship between Timor-Leste and Indonesia is good due to our external policy is good as well. Both countries have borderline development interests in economics as we have a land border, maritime border, and Aerospace with Indonesia.
In 2002, when H.E. José Ramos Horta was President and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, he proposed to the Ex-President of the Republic, actual Prime Minister, H.E. Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, to define our external policy that whoever be a President of the Republic or Elected Prime Minister for the first-time his official visit, Indonesia must be the first visited.
This policy made in 2002 until now, commenced by the Indonesia President, Gus Dur (Abdurrahman Wahid), who came to Timor-Leste in January, and Megawati Setiawati Soekarnoputri came to restoration of the Independence of Timor-Leste celebration in 2002, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono came for three times, and Joko Widodo (Jokowi) came previous year.
The Indonesian head of state came to Timor-Leste to prove that we have good relationships with both official levels of two governments and people. Therefore, thousands of Timorese studying and strolling in Indonesia all day.
Indonesia is a democratic country and has strong economics in regional and international prestige. Today, Timor-Leste is a democratic rights country, a member of the United States, and an international organization member at the regional and international level.
(Media CNC)
