Cablegate: Preview of President Obama's Speech On Afghanistan In

VZCZCXRO4640
OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHHM
DE RUEHDT #0313 3360114
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O R 020114Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY DILI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4619
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS
RUEHDT/AMEMBASSY DILI 4175

UNCLAS DILI 000313

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL AF PK TT
SUBJECT: PREVIEW OF PRESIDENT OBAMA'S SPEECH ON AFGHANISTAN IN
TIMOR-LESTE

REF: A) STATE 122731 AND B) STATE 122234

1. Ambassador met on the evening of December 1 (local time)
with Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta to share a preview
of President Obama's West Point speech on Afghanistan (ref A).
President Ramos-Horta thanked us for the early alert, said he
intended to watch the speech live and pledged to issue a public
statement in strong support of the increased U.S. commitment to
Afghanistan and Pakistan. Early on December 2 (local time), the
ambassador called on Foreign Minister Zacharias da Costa. After
receiving our preview of President Obama's policy statement, FM
Da Costa thanked the U.S. for its "critical" leadership and
commitment to the security of Afghanistan and Pakistan, and
stated the Timorese government will support the U.S. mission in
Afghanistan "one hundred percent."

2. We will follow up with the Timorese president, as well as
the prime and foreign ministers, once President Obama delivers
his remarks. Post will also ensure the West Point speech
receives maximum local media coverage and report on local
reactions promptly.

KLEMM

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