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Timor - Leste International and Local Media Monitoring for October 27, 2004

Timor - Leste defends Timor Gap Suara Timor Lorosa'e (STL)

Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri stated that the government of Timor - Leste will continuously attempt to get the Timorese rights over Timor Gap including the Grater Sunrise field. Mr. Alkatiri noted the Timorese delegations are trying to determine the maritime boundary in order to define the owner, as both countries are claiming their rights to it.

The Prime Minister added that the government firmly stands on its position to build strategies to get what is considered to belong to the nation.

He also said that the negotiations are ongoing, yet it have not reached any significant results.

Budget assistance of SEP will be increased Suara Timor Lorosa'e (STL)

The task team leader for the World Bank's Small Enterprise Project (SEP), Mr. Bernard Drum, expressed his intention to increase the budget assistance for the project in Timor - Leste.

SEP is doing well for the reconstruction of the nation, and the budget will be increased to fulfill needs and maintain management, Mr. Drum said this after a meeting held with the Prime Minister, Mr. Mari Alkatiri, the Vice- Minister of Development and Environment, Mr. Abel da Costa, and the World Bank Country Manager, Ms. Elisabeth Huybens.

Emergency patients in HNGV increase Suara Timor Lorosa'e (STL)

Mr. Moisés da Costa, a staff member at the emergency unit in the National Hospital of Guido Valadares (HNGV) said that the number of patients coming in increased dramatically in October. He noted that there were about 80-90 patients each day compare to last month, which was 40-50 per day.

Generally, the patients suffer from diarrhea, asthma and hypertension, although Mr. da Costa mentioned that the number of malaria cases this month decreased.

Domingos Sarmento, SH: 'We never issued land certificates'

Thus far, the Ministry of Justice has not issued certificates either for lands or houses, stated the Minister of Justice, Mr. Domingos Sarmento, SH. He said this in response to the use of land and property certificates as a warranty to get credit from some commercial banks in Timor - Leste.

He affirmed that the Ministry of Justice is not involved with the credits given by the banks.

Mr. Sarmento added that those certificates issued by the Indonesian government would be collected by the Ministry in order to release new ones under authorization of the government of Timor - Leste.

Ministry of Justice staff attending Portuguese Course Suara Timor Lorosa'e (STL)

Ministry of Justice staff are now undertaking a Portuguese language course that started on October 26, which is carried out by Camoens Institute said the Minister of Justice, Mr. Domingos Sarmento.

The course is divided into 3 levels: 1 for beginners, 2 for intermediate level, and 3 for advanced students. The number of staff taking the course is 63. Apart from the abovementioned, Camoens Institute is also delivering the same course for judges, panels, and public defenders.

Mr. Sarmento added that the aim of this course is to enable all staff to use Portuguese in the workplace.

Government held meeting with Diplomatic Corps Timor Post

A meeting was held at the Memorial Hall on Tuesday, October 27 between government representatives and members of the Diplomatic Corps in Timor - Leste.

The government representatives were Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri, Brigadier General Taur Matan Ruak, Minister of Planning and Finance, Ms. Maria Madalena Boavida, State Secretary of Solidarity, Mr. Arseno Paixao Bano, among others.

The Prime Minister said that the aim of this meeting was to disseminate information regarding general issues in Timor-Leste, especially the development of veterans' conditions.

Portugal assists TL with Euro 750.000 Timor Post

The Portuguese government gave Timor-Leste assistance of Euro 750.000-950.000 to be allocated to children in Dili, Quelecai, and Baucau, the Dominican Sisters, and to professional training places such as those in Tibar, Baucau and Natarbora.

The assistance was given directly to the State Secretary of Labour and Solidarity, Mr. Arseno Bano.

Mr. Bano thanked the government of Portugal for assisting TL towards its development in difficult times. Mr. Bano also said that this assistance will strengthen the cooperation between the two nations in serving the communities in social aspects as well as providing professional training.

Note: The World Bank welcomes comments and suggestions, as well as information about errors that call for correction. Messages may be sent to Sildonia Sarmento who can be reached through e-mail at ssarmento@worldbank.org or telephoned at 332 4649, extension 304.

David de Araujo Receptionist World Bank, Dili Office