16 May 2012
Media Release - Government House

Governor-General to visit Timor-Leste for independence celebrations

The Governor-General, Lt Gen The Rt Hon Sir Jerry Mateparae, is to visit Timor-Leste to mark the 10th anniversary of Southeast Asian nation’s independence.

Sir Jerry Mateparae will be greeted in Dili on May 19 with a State Welcome at the Presidential Palace and a meeting with outgoing President, HE Dr José Ramos-Horta.

He will then meet New Zealanders living in Dili at a gathering at the New Zealand Embassy before attending the swearing in ceremony of newly elected President, Taur Matan Ruak that evening.

The following day Sir Jerry Mateparae will attend the Timor-Leste Independence Day celebrations and flag raising ceremony at the Presidential Palace and hold bilateral discussions with the new President, HE Taur Matan Ruak, Prime Minister, HE Xanana Gusmão and the President of Parliament, HE Fernando La Sama de Araújo. He will also witness the signing of an agreement on community policing between Timor-Leste and New Zealand.

Sir Jerry said the visit reflected the warm and friendly relationship between New Zealand and Timor-Leste.

“New Zealand has been by Timor-Leste’s side since soon after the 1999 referendum on independence, providing troops to the Australian-led INTERFET force that halted the violence that followed, while providing essential humanitarian relief before independence was formalised on 20 May 2002.

“Since that time, thousands of New Zealanders from the military, police and many other government and non-government organisations, have served there, helping the Timorese people build their young nation. New Zealand is committed to continuing to support Timor-Leste as the focus of assistance moves from security to education and business and trade development.”

Sir Jerry has strong ties to Timor-Leste. He was Joint Commander for New Zealand forces (1999-2001) in Timor-Leste at the time of its independence and later, as Chief of the New Zealand Defence Force, he visited in November 2008 and September 2010.

While the Governor-General is overseas from 19-21 May, the Chief Justice, Rt Hon Dame Sian Elias, will serve as Administrator of the Government.
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