Meeting of the Council of Ministers on January 23, 2013

V CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT

DILI, JANUARY 23, 2013

PRESS RELEASE

Meeting of the Council of Ministers on January 23, 2013

The V Constitutional Government of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste met this Wednesday January 23, 2013 at the meeting room of the Council of Ministers, Government’s Palace, in Díli, having approved the following:

1. Government Resolution approving the Rules of Procedure of the Council of Ministers

The objective of the statute is to render the meetings of the Council of Ministers more effective. The meetings will now be held on a fortnightly basis and there shall be preparatory meetings aimed at thoroughly analyzing and discussing technical issues relating to the legislative statutes. The need to provide a detailed explanation on each and every project has also been established so that the latter can be more easily understood by Government Members at the time of their discussion, including by the population for which the statute is intended.

It should be recalled that the Rules of Procedure of the Council of Ministers is an essential legal tool for the organization and the smooth functioning of the Government as a collective body and for the approval of quality legislation, i.e., a legislation deemed to be necessary, complete and understandable.

2. Government Resolution approving the extinguishment of the Commission for the Reverification of the Cases of Internally Displaced Persons in Timor-Leste

The Council of Ministers analyzed and discussed the work of the Commission for the Reverification of the Cases of Internally Displaced Persons in Timor-Leste. The Council concluded that no need exists for such Commission to persist and decided to extinguish it.

The following was also analyzed by the Council of Ministers:

Household Income and Expenditure Survey – 2011

The Ministry of Finance presented to the Council of Ministers the Study on the Household Income and Expenditure Survey conducted in 2011.

The purpose of such survey is, on one hand, to assess the economic status of the families at the national level and, on the other hand, to collect data on the internal demand and improve the contents of the basket of goods and services used to calculate the Consumer Price Index.

The study was conducted over a period of one year and is aimed at mitigating the effects of seasonal variations in the results.

2. Development Policy Coordination Mechanism

The Council of Ministers analyzed the governing structure of the national development policy coordination mechanism and readjusted the new sectors in accordance with the guidelines of the Development Strategic Plan. The objective is to render the planned and executed measures more effective and efficient, including the dialogue between governmental authorities and development partners.

3. Update information on g7+, New Deal and Fragility Assessment

The Ministry of Finance provided the Council of Ministers with an update on the g7+, the New Deal and the Fragility Assessment following the achievements registered in 2012, notably the parallel meetings held during the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the meeting of the g7+ Ministers of Finance with the President of the World Bank in Tokyo, and the g7+ ministerial retreat held in Haiti. The New Deal draws the attention of donors, governments and civil society to the State Building and Peace Building Goalsby applying a coordinated approach and establishing mutual trust between governments and donors in the development of a New Vision, a Plan for all countries that are part of the group. Initially, the New Deal will be implemented in seven countries, notably the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of South Sudan, Sierra Leone, Timor-Leste, Liberia, Afghanistan and the Central African Republic.

The Minister of Finance, Emília Pires, who presides over the g7+, also provided the Council of Ministers with a progress report on the implementation of the New Deal in Timor-Leste, including the agenda of meetings to take place in 2013 in the framework of the g7+, the High Level Panel and the International Dialogue.

4. Collection of Inter-Ministerial Information on the process of Timor-Leste’s adhesion to ASEAN

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation provided the Council of Ministers with an updated account on the study conducted on the process of Timor-Leste’s adhesion to ASEAN. The study focused on the impact of the treaties and agreements which have already been signed and those yet to be signed, as well as on the need to strengthen areas such as the legislative system, infrastructures, small and medium-sized enterprises, agriculture and fisheries, food security and foreign economic relations. The following ministries and secretariats of State took part in the study: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Environment, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Ministry of Tourism, Secretariat of State for Professional Training and Employment Policy, Secretariat of State for Support and Promotion of the Private Sector.

ENDS

© Scoop Media