Hillary Clinton With Timor Leste Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao
- U.S.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (L) stands beside East Timor's Prime
Minister Xanana Gusmao during a joint news conference in Dili,
September 6, 2012. Clinton arrived in Asia's newest nation of East Timor
on Thursday, hoping to bolster the fledgling government that is trying
to bring the impoverished country closer in step with its booming
neighbors in Southeast Asia. REUTERS/lirio Da Fonseca (EAST TIMOR -
Tags: POLITICS)
Remarks With Timor Leste Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao
Remarks
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
Government Palace
Dili, Timor-Leste
September 6, 2012
PRIME MINISTER GUSMAO:
Ladies and gentlemen, today it has been a great pleasure to meet with
United States Secretary of State, the lovely Hillary Clinton.
(Inaudible) warmly welcomed me and our Timorese delegation when we
visited Washington, D.C. in February lat year. We now have received this
opportunity to respond in kind and to warmly extend our hand of
friendship as the Secretary of State visits Timor Leste during the year
of the 10th anniversary of our sovereignty.
Madam
Secretary, you are the first United States Secretary of State to visit
Timor Leste. You are recognized globally for your relentless advocacy
for peace, freedom, and democracy. (Inaudible) the Asia Pacific and are
committed to the peaceful development and the prosperity of the nations
in our region. Madam, you are an inspiration to us in Timor Leste, and
your visit will be remembered by our people for man years to come. Your
visit also symbolizes the contribution that you are making – makes to
our region and to the world. As an international leader, the United
States has provided a strong framework for global prosperity and
progress.
Ladies and gentlemen, the United States Government has
been a steadfast supporter of Timor Leste and our development. The
United States has supported the strengthening of our framework for good
governance, including (inaudible) Anti-Corruption Commission, which is a
critical reform of our nation. It has supported the development of our
private sector, our agriculture sector, and the development of our
coffee industry. And I have to (inaudible) that we have the best coffee
in the world. (Laughter.)
And our nation also enjoys close defense
ties which help to strengthen the (inaudible) capability of the effort
(inaudible) of our armed forces. Ladies and gentlemen, they – our talks
have been wide-ranging and reflective. We have discussed the problems of
Timor Leste and the implementation of the strategic development plan,
besides our (inaudible) future. We have spoken about our own development
partnership, including U.S. support of the G-7- Plus. And we have
discussed regional and global plans in international relations. As you
understand, we are so small that we have begun (inaudible) our best
wishes to the (inaudible) the United States is playing. This has
(inaudible) expressing our concern about the situation in Syria,
commending the efforts of the United States in seeking to achieve a
resolution to this conflict.
Madam Secretary, thank you for
visiting us in Timor Leste. We are honored by your presence which has
made a great contribution to strengthen the strong bond of friendship
between our nations. Before we take questions from you, ladies and
gentlemen, I would like to invite the Madam Secretary to make some
remarks. Thank you.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you
very much, Prime Minister, and I am absolutely honored and delighted to
be the first-ever United States Secretary of State to visit Timor Leste,
and to help celebrate your 10th anniversary of an
independent, democratic state. I told the Prime Minister when we met in
February that I was determined to get there before the year was out as a
very visible sign of our support for all that has been accomplished by
the government and the people of this nation.
My message to the
Timorese people is this: The United States was proud to stand with you
during your struggle for independence, and we are standing with you as
you work to build a strong democracy with robust institutions, the rule
of law, and protecting the rights of all of your citizens. Strong
democracies, we know from long practice, make more stable neighbors and
capable partners, which is one of the reasons why the United States is
advancing democracy and human rights as a central pillar of our
engagement throughout Asia.
I am so pleased because when the Prime
Minister and I met in Washington last February in advance of your
elections, he asked for assistance to make sure there were two sets of
eyes on every ballot box. The United States supported four observer
missions covering all 13 voting districts across the nation. And let me
congratulate the leaders and people of Timor Leste for three sets of
free and fair elections this year, and a peaceful transfer of power to
the new President, government, and parliament. I told the Prime Minister
there are many nations much older than this one who cannot credibly say
they have conducted elections that are as free, fair, and credible as
yours.
The Prime Minister and I also discussed the progress that
your country is making to build peace at home, and as a leader of the
so-called New Deal initiative for engaging with fragile and
conflict-affected states, Timor Leste is helping create a model for
country-led development. I also want to commend the Government of Timor
Leste for being the first nation in Asia and only the third nation
across the world to be fully compliant with the Extractive Industries
Transparency Initiative. As you can tell by the fact there are so few
countries in the world that have achieved this full compliance, that is
indeed a commendable accomplishment, and it proved once again you don’t
have to be big to be good.
The Prime Minister and I talked about
the many ways that Timor Leste and the United States are working
together – from the robust military partnership between Timor Leste and
the United States Pacific Command, to our efforts to strengthen the
justice sector, improve access to healthcare, develop agriculture and
expand trade through projects like the Timor Coffee Cooperative that I
just visited earlier today, and I can personally attest the coffee is
fabulous. (Laughter.) And I am looking forward to taking some home and
sharing with my family.
I was so impressed by the role that the
cooperative has in creating economic opportunity and transforming the
lives of people in the rural districts, and we’re going to look for
additional ways to support economic development projects that work as
well as that one. Projects like these reflect the model of partnership
that the United States is pursuing across the Asia Pacific. These are
partnerships rooted in our shared values, that deliver concrete benefits
to people, and that help countries become stronger and more capable
over time so they too can play their role in solving regional and global
challenges.
One of our countries’ shared priorities is making
sure that the young people of Timor Leste have the chance to live up to
their own God-given potential. With 60 percent of the population under
the age of 25 – and I saw many of those absolutely beautiful
schoolchildren on my way from the airport to the meeting today – we want
to help support their future. So I’m pleased to announce a new $6.5
million scholarship program for Timorese youth to pursue academic
degrees in the United States. We want to help you train a cadre of young
professionals who will contribute to your country’s social and economic
development and help foster lasting ties between our people.
So
thank you again, Prime Minister, for this very warm welcome. I’m so glad
I’ve had this opportunity to visit one of the world’s newest
democracies, but a country whose people have already shown a resilience
and character that is required in a democratic tradition. And so let us
work together to build an enduring partnership between our nations.
Thank you, sir. Thank you very much.
MODERATOR: We’ll open to questions, two questions, (inaudible).
QUESTION:
Thank you. My name is (inaudible) from (inaudible). I have a question
about – it’s been (inaudible) a statement from President Obama which
(inaudible) already stated that U.S. foreign policy is (inaudible) to
the Asia Pacific. What does it mean for the region’s smallest countries
like East Timor? Is it still more important in the great (inaudible)
between China and the U.S., or will more U.S. (inaudible) be using the
(inaudible)? Thank you.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Well,
first, let me emphasize that the emphasis on the Asia Pacific under the
Obama Administration is meant to send a clear, unmistakable message that
the United States has been, is, and will remain a resident Pacific
power. We have a long history in Asia and in the Pacific, and we have
many partnerships and friendships and alliances that are very important
to the advancement of the opportunity for prosperity and peace that the
people of the Asia Pacific all deserve.
We have had a long
history, for example, here in Timor Leste in support of your efforts to
achieve independence, and we are here now to help your government and
people realize the benefits of independence and democracy. We are not
here against any other country; we are here on behalf of our partnership
and relationship with countries in the region. We happen to believe
that Asia and the Pacific are quite big enough for many countries to
participate in the activities of the region, and as I told the Prime
Minister, we want Timor Leste to have as many friends and partners as
possible, not only in this region – Australia, Japan, China, Indonesia –
but far beyond. Because we think it’s in everyone’s interest to support
Timor Leste’s democracy and economic development.
So as I had
said just in these past days at the Pacific Island Forum in the Cook
Islands, in Indonesia, in China, and now today in Timor Leste, the
United States is here to stay. We want to work on behalf of our
relationship, but we also want to work in partnership with ASEAN, with
other nations, to further the goals of peace, prosperity, security,
opportunity for the people of this region.
MODERATOR: Second question last, Mr. Matt Lee, AP.
QUESTION: Hi. I won’t surprise you. I’ve got a couple things.
SECRETARY CLINTON: (Laughter.)
QUESTION:
But the first two will be brief. I’m wondering – you didn’t mention
your comments – oh, I’m sorry – you didn’t mention in your comments,
opening comments, about the idea of accountability for the (inaudible)
that happened in Timor both during the colonial era and during the
Indonesian occupation. I’m wondering if there’s anything specifically
that the United States is offering in that regard, and I’d be interested
to hear the Prime Minister’s comments on that too.
Secondly, the –
wondering if you have any thoughts the day after your trip to China on
how far apart you and the Chinese are on several major issues that were
covered.
And then third, as I’m sure you’re probably aware --
SECRETARY CLINTON: (Laughter.)
QUESTION: -- back home in the States, it’s a somewhat significant political day.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Yes.
QUESTION:
I realize that you’re somewhat limited in what you can say politically,
but personally, we’d be all very interested in your thoughts about
missing the first Democratic convention since 1968 and the fact that
your husband and daughter are there and he spoke, and I believe that the
President is accepting the nomination, if he hasn’t already, just right
about now. So we’d be interested in hearing your thoughts about that.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, those are three interesting questions, Matt, as always.
First,
with respect to human rights, we take our lead from the Government of
Timor Leste. Obviously, the protection of human rights is absolutely
essential and a key measure of the health of any democracy, and the
United States is proud to work with Timor Leste on human rights issues,
including legal support for women and victims of domestic violence. We
continue to work with the government to address outstanding concerns,
including trafficking in persons, countering any kind of ongoing human
rights abuse, and pursuing accountability for the victims of conflict.
But
let me stop here and ask the Prime Minister if he wishes to say
something, because of course, his goals have been the consolidation of
peace and security in his country.
PRIME MINISTER GUSMAO:
Thank you, Madam. Yes, it is a very (inaudible) issue when you
(inaudible) us. I believe that (inaudible) that after 24 years of
suffering, what we need (inaudible) is peace, a reconciliation,
(inaudible) in the spirit of tolerance between ourselves, and now that
we are going, now that we are (inaudible) the world -- because we are
new, we are 10 years old, making some progress in our democracy, we
don’t have (inaudible). Democracy only can survive if we develop, if we
feel that (inaudible) leaps and benefits. That is why is isn’t difficult
to talk about this when we need to have good relations with our closest
neighbor with which we have more than 70 percent of (inaudible).
We
have to go through – we have to see in the future, to move from
(inaudible). That is why I thank you very much, Madam, because of this
understanding of our reality. The problem is this. Well, one day, I
don't know, in the future, maybe it can be an issue that we can
(inaudible). But I have to tell you, we established a commission of
truth – truth about own mistakes and our own crimes committed amongst
ourselves. And we then gather (inaudible).
We had also established
(inaudible) commission through (inaudible) also. What happened to us at
the time was (inaudible) – we didn’t know to do it. This is the
(inaudible), and I believe that you understand now that we are at peace,
now that we have good relations with Indonesia, now that we take
advantage of (inaudible) of having thousands of thousands of our
students there, trying to get (inaudible) all ages to come back and to
develop our economy. I have to tell you, for the future, yes, the United
States is now helping us in the justice sector, and helping us to
provide to our police and other components of society, to look at the
human rights, to look at the justice in terms of benefiting all
citizens. Yes, it is – what I can say is --
SECRETARY CLINTON:
Well, I think the Prime Minister has eloquently stated the position of
the government and the country looking forward, thinking about tomorrow,
with a population – 60 percent of them are under 25. That is the
imperative. And we take our lead from the government and the people of
this country to be as helpful as we can in supporting them in developing
the kind of future they deserve. So thank you, Prime Minister.
With
respect to China, look, as I said yesterday, one of the things I am
most proud of is the resilience that we have built into the U.S.-China
relationship over the past nearly four years. Even when we disagree,
believe me, we can talk very frankly now. We can explore the toughest
issues without imperiling the whole relationship. And as was evident
yesterday, there is a huge amount going on in the world where the United
States and China need to consult and try to find as much common ground
of agreement as possible.
On Iran, on North Korea, we have
in-depth discussions on those and others. On Syria and the South China
Sea, we are also very much involved in discussing our differing
perspectives. And of course, on the need for a continuing economic
recovery, I think it was apparent in our discussions yesterday there is a
great focus on the part of Chinese leaders about the global economic
recovery, what more needs to be done in order for it to really take
hold, what are the challenges that Europe faces that can affect the rest
of the world, for example.
And as I made clear in my remarks
yesterday, the United States, certainly I, am not going to shy away from
standing up for our strategic interests, and in expressing clearly
where we differ. The mark of a mature relationship, whether it’s between
nations or between people, is not whether we agree on everything,
because that is highly unlikely between nations and people, but whether
we can work through the issues that are difficult. And so I thought it
was an important time to go and to have these consultations and to
exchange views in advance of APEC, in advance of the East Asia Summit,
in advance of the United Nations General Assembly, and to really sort
out where we could make progress together. Of course, dialogue is only
part of it, although we had many, many hours of dialogue over the last
day and a half. The test going forward is whether we can make tangible
progress, and we’re going to be very intent upon diplomatic efforts in
the lead-up to the multilateral meetings that are scheduled.
Now,
with regard to your last question, Matt, officially, let me say that for
decades, secretaries of State have not attended political conventions
because of the nonpartisan nature of our foreign policy. I think it’s a
good rule. It’s one that I certainly accepted. This is the first
convention I have missed in many, many years. But on a personal level,
let me also say that my husband read parts of his speech to me over the
last few days. I received the as-prepared version, which I’m anxious,
when I can, to compare with the as-delivered version. (Laughter.)
So
it’s a great honor for him to be nominating the President, and I’m
delighted to be here in Timor Leste on behalf of the United States in
furtherance of our shared values, interests, and security. And I’m
grateful that I had this opportunity to visit and to have these
discussions today.
Thank you so much.
MODERATOR: We thank you very much.
SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you all.
