REPÚBLICA DEMOCRÁTICA DE TIMOR-LESTE Ministerio dos Negócios Estrangeiros e Cooperaçâo

Saturday, 17 May2003

For Immediate Release

Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. José Ramos-Horta Comments on Travel Advice Issued by the Australian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade on Friday 16 May 2003

The government of Timor-Leste is very sensitive and respectful of Australia’s concern and obligations to protect its citizens abroad and can state that all the authorities in Timor-Leste that, including United Nations security forces and police have provided and continue to provide a very safe environment for all foreigners that reside in Timor-Leste.

There has not been any terrorist attack in Timor-Leste in the last three years and the East Timorese government has no information that can validate the Australian travel advice. Timor-Leste remains very peaceful and safe for its people and foreign residents.

Obviously the Australian government might have information that Timorese government does not have. The two governments do not have an agreement on intelligence sharing. Therefore, the Timorese government does not have access to Australia’s information and claims about possible terrorist threat in Timor-Leste.

The Timorese government has to rely on its owns sources that have proven to be credible and effective in the past, concludes that terrorist threat in Timor-Leste from internal or external sources namely Jemaah Islamiyah or Al-Queda are very low.

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For further information please contact: Leonor Mota/Elisa da Silva Division of Public Affairs Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Mobile: +670-7237158/7239547 Email: mediamfac@yahoo.com

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