DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF TIMOR-LESTE
ADDRESS BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRIME MINISTER
AND MINISTER OF DEFENCE AND SECURITY KAY RALA XANANA GUSMÃO
ON THE OCCASION OF
THE 66TH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY
New York, 23 SEPTEMBER 2011 2
Your Excellency President of the General Assembly
Your Excellency the Secretary-General
Excellencies
Ladies and Gentlemen
It is a great pleasure for me to be back at the United Nations Headquarters. Last February, I had the honour of taking part in the Security Council meeting, where I took the opportunity to thank the permanent members and all other nations that have been part of the Council for the generosity and care that have always been present in the resolutions on Timor-Leste.
Today, on behalf of the people of Timor-Leste, I want to take this opportunity to thank all members of this forum for the support they have given to Timor-Leste in the promotion of peace and security and in the building of our national institutions.
I am pleased to inform the General Assembly that we have come a long way as a people and as a state replacing intolerance with constructive dialogue, and the right to protest with the duty to protest responsibly.
We have taken firm steps away from the difficult circumstances of the past and we have renewed the confidence of the Timorese people in the institutions of the State. As such, we have already endorsed the Joint Transitional Plan for the withdrawal of the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste by the end of 2012.