MEDIA RELEASE

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Second Transitional Government East Timor

Friday 15 February 2002 For Immediate Release

RAMOS-HORTA COMMENDS US CONGRESSMAN TONY HALL

East Timor has lost one of its best friends in the United States Congress, Senior Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Dr Jose Ramos-Horta said on hearing that United States congressman Tony Hall announced yesterday that he would leave the US Congress to become the US Ambassador to the United Nations international hunger relief agencies.

"I have known congress man Tony Hall, a democrat from Ohio, for 25 years. Seldom have I ever met a most generous and decent human being. Throughout his adult life he has championed the cause of the poor and the hungry," Dr Ramos-Horta said today.

"The World Food Program, Food and Agriculture Organisation, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the whole United Nations system won a unique individual with high moral standing, but the US congress has lost one of the most humane policy makers in Washington.? Dr Ramos-Horta said.

"East Timor has lost one of its very best friends and allies in the US congress," Dr Ramos-Horta said.

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For further information contact: Ms Caroline O'Brien Media Liaison Officer Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Second Transitional Government East Timor Telephone: +61 (0)417 804 298 Email: foreignaffairs@un.org Website: www.gov.tp

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