Delegations from dozens of countries, at the level of heads of state, government officials or official representatives, are visiting East Timor for the inauguration of the elected president, José Ramos-Horta, and the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the restoration of independence.
The delegations of Portugal, Australia and Guinea-Bissau will be at the highest level, with many countries sending government officials or ambassadors.
The President of the Portuguese Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, arrived in Dili Thursday morning aboard a charter Atlantico plane, with Foreign Minister João Gómez Cravenho, Vice-President of the National Assembly of the Republic on board. They also travel.
On the same day, the Australian Governor-General, David Hurley, arrived from Canberra, and the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Mahfouz, from Indonesia.
The visit of the Prime Minister of Guinea-Bissau, Nuno Gomes Nabiam, possibly accompanied by other members of the executive branch, was also confirmed.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Vivian Balakrishnan, is expected to travel to Dili on behalf of the Prime Minister, and the Minister for Disarmament and Arms Control, Phil Twyford, is expected to be present from New Zealand.
The current Minister of Planning and Economic Development of Sierra Leone, Francis Mustafa Kaye Kaye, who will be in the country as Chairman of the G7+, which brings together countries facing active conflicts or having recent conflict experiences, is also scheduled to visit. and fragility.
The President of the National Assembly of Sao Tome and Principe, Minister of the Presidency of the Cape Verdean Council of Ministers, Executive Secretary of the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP), Zacharias da Costa, Minister of Civil Affairs of the Presidential House of the Republic of Mozambique are other guests.
Delegates from the governments of Japan, Angola and Brazil will also be in the country.
Today, several delegations from accredited embassies in Indonesia and Timor-Leste, including the United Kingdom, have arrived, and the Timorese authorities are expecting 30 diplomatic delegations to attend.
The official program begins with a dinner on the afternoon of May 19, chaired by the current Head of State, Francisco Guterres Lo-Olo, before the inauguration ceremony of José Ramos-Horta, which is taking place in Tasi Tolo.
On May 20, there will be official ceremonies at the Presidential Palace, and in the afternoon, a special plenary session of the National Parliament.
ASP // JMC
