Remarks
By
J. RAMOS-HORTA
PRESIDENT OF TIMOR-LESTE
On the occasion
of the 39th Anniversary
of the National Day
of Brunei Darussalam
23rd February 2023
I'm pleased to join everyone present here today to congratulate His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah when the people of Brunei proudly celebrate the Thirty-Ninth Anniversary of Independence.
His Majesty, the 29th and current Sultan and Yang di-Pertuan of Brunei since 1967 and Prime Minister since independence in 1984, has presided over the transformation of Brunei into an Abode of Peace and Prosperity.
It has been a remarkable journey from a British colonial outpost to a respected and influential small power, an abode of peace, tranquility and prosperity in a region fraught with security challenges and uncertainty.
His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah has been for decades the trusted Captain of a ship or I would say the Captain of a Boeing 747 carrying passengers with steady hands through stormy skies to safety.
The reason I use the metaphor of a 747 Boeing is because I know His Majesty is an experienced Boeing Captain and helicopter pilot. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim told me when I visited him in Kuala Lumpur last December that I was the second leader to visit upon his inauguration, the first being His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah who flew his own plane.
If I'm not mistaken there are only two Monarchs in the world who fly their own Boeing Aircrafts. The other one is His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn of Thailand. Very impressive.
I treasure my past visits to Brunei and the memorable meetings with His Majesty. I am looking forward to visit again to further enhance and elevate our relationship to highest status.
Timor-Leste and Brunei Darussalam celebrated the establishment of diplomatic relations 20 years ago. Since then we have developed an exemplary relationship, a kingship between the two smallest Southeast Asian countries that try to peacefully navigate regional and global stormy waters.
As the Leader of a small nation His Majesty showed understanding and sympathy of Timor-Leste's many challenges at independence and in the following years of our journey of national healing and reconciliation, building durable peace and a better life for the people.
His Majesty instructed the government to open the Embassy of Brunei Darussalam in Timor-Leste few years after independence. Since then Timor-Leste and Brunei have developed a steady, mature, relationship.
I expect that with the signing of the Air Services Agreement between our two countries we will see Royal Air Brunei include Dili in its international routes.
Brunei has made offers of scholarship to Timor-Leste students since 2016 and I intend to advertize it widely to generate more candidates.
A MOU on labour has been agreed and the signing may take place soon and the first batch of 100 workers can be airlifted by Royal Brunei Airlines to start working in Brunei.
Brunei Ministry of Health is ready to receive Timor-Leste Medical Doctors to do Specialist training in Brunei, and Timor-Leste should do patient referral to Brunei. Brunei doctors are among the best in the world and operate in many advanced hospitals in the region.
Brunei based Business have visited Timor-Leste and have shown keen interest to invest in rice production for export to Brunei and for consumption in Timor-Leste. Others have expressed desire in building up Timor-Leste as an air cargo and aircraft maintenance hub, as well as a financial center.
On the energy sector there have been exploratory talks about Timorese doing internship in Oil & Gas industry in Brunei.
We are looking forward to the next ASEAN SUMMIT hosted by Indonesia in the second week of May.
In the next Summit TL will take its place as observer with the right to participate in all meetings. ASEAN friends and neighbors will adopt the roadmap towards Timor-Leste formal admission as ASEAN 11th member.
I have indicated that as far as I am concerned Timor-Leste will work extra hours to implement the timeline laid out by ASEAN Leaders in the May meeting.
Should ASEAN Leaders determine that TL is to be admitted in 2023 we will be ready. Should ASEAN Leaders decide that Timor-Leste formal admission occur in 2024, 2025 or 2026, TL will be even better prepared. As Observers with full rights and duties we will participate in all meetings with almost same rights as other ASEAN Member States. There will be important nuances and exceptions. We are comfortable with this.
In the meantime, we are immensely grateful for the many offers of support for the enhancement of our human resources development.
We are grateful that Singapore has launched a comprehensive capacity building program for up to 800 Timorese officials and experts. This is in addition to offers made by other ASEAN friends Indonesia included which in fact has been supporting Timor-Leste capacity building for many years.
Dear Excellency Ambassador Wan Hadfi Latif, May God the Almighty and Merciful continue to bless His Majesty Hassanal Bolkiah ibni Omar Ali Saifuddien with immense wisdom and endless compassion and may Brunei Darussalam continue to be an Abode of Peace and Human Fraternity for the people of the Sultanate and the region.
J. Ramos-Horta
