Former East Timor President shares vision for his country
Dr Jose Ramos Horta presenting at Monash University this week
Former East Timor President Dr José Ramos-Horta shared his insights on the challenges of his country in peace-making and building an equitable economy, in an address at Monash University.
Following the transition to independence from Indonesian rule and the recent election of Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao, the Nobel Peace Prize winner spoke about issues facing his country's young population and plans to improve education, resources to health, sanitation, rural development, agriculture and food security.
Dr Ramos-Horta said political and security conditions on the ground in East Timor today are better than at any time in their brief 10-year history.
“There's a solid governing coalition government, a strong, mature opposition, and there are no political tensions apart from the robust parliamentary debates. On the law and order front, I'm very pleased that even common criminality is at its lowest in 10 years,” Dr Ramos-Horta said.
"While it is too soon to judge current Government performance since it has been in office for less than 100 days, Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao has the benefit of experience of his first five years as Prime Minister and can draw lessons from that experience, build on the progress made, correct the mistakes.
“He is fully committed to helping the poorest of the poor, the children and youth of our country. Hence he will commit more resources to health, education, clean water, basic sanitation, rural development, agriculture and food security.”
Dr Ramos-Horta was a co-recipient of the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize and has spent almost half his life lobbying governments across the globe to endorse East Timor’s independence from Indonesian rule.
“Australia could match Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao's vision and commitment by investing alarger share of its annual development assistance to East Timor in rural development, rural roads, basic health care, education and vocational training,” Dr Ramos-Horta said.
Upon the independence of East Timor Dr Ramos-Horta became their first foreign minister elected, a position he carried out until he became Prime Minister in 2006.