Embassy of Japan in Timor-Leste
在東ティモール日本国大使館
Good evening.
My wife and I would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to you for attending our farewell reception today. Three years have passed since we arrived in Timor-Leste on September 10 2008. Time indeed flies.
During these three years, we have been supported by each and every one of you here in Timor-Leste. With my wife Yoshiko, I thoroughly enjoyed my everyday life in Timor-Leste, filled with joy and excitement. We literally fell in love with Timor-Leste and people of this country. This is wonderful country and its adorable people gave us utmost happiness in our life.
People in Timor-Leste have a history of achievement in the face of great difficulty and in circumstances where you were told that you could not succeed. And today, for better Timor-Leste and for a brighter future for all the people in Timor-Leste, under the Strategic Development Plan (SDP), which was launched on July 12 by Prime Minister Gusmão, Timorese people, in a renewed spirit of solidarity and with a strong commitment, are joining forces to make your dreams come true. Prime Minister Gusmão visited each of all the 65 Sub-Districts. Prime Minister Gusmão urged upon people, enthusiastically and sincerely, toward the nation-building of their homeland and appealed to people to unite again to this end. He called out for their mind reform where people should take initiative for the nation-building of their own country. Prime Minister paid close attention to all questions raised by the people and answered them sincerely, until there were no more question, and believe it or not, up to 11 hours had passed before we realized it.
The source of wealth and engine of the nation’s development and prosperity is human resources; thus, it is the Timorese people themselves. The government of Timor-Leste is working very hard for enhancing education and developing human resources as one of their urgent priorities for the nation-building. On this occasion, I would like to reiterate that Japan will fully support Timor-Leste’s nation-building, in line with the SDP, which is proudly hailed as “country led, country owned” national plan.
My wife and I went to districts to districts, running exhaustively most of the main roads in Timor-Leste. Every visit was filled with unforgettable encounter and discovery. In this country, whichever district you go, there is magnificent nature, rich culture, hospitable people and children with sparkling curiosity, who are the future of Timor-Leste. Talking about the Timorese people’s warm hospitality, I would like to share one of my memorable experiences which I had when the village’s bridge fell down due to hard rain, and I was at a loss since my car could not move on. Then, all the villagers worked together to make a temporary bridge and thanks to their kind efforts, I was able to continue my journey.
As I have mentioned in the beginning, my wife and I, from bottom of our hearts, fell in love with such beautiful Timor-Leste. This strong passion, together with kind help and support from all of you in Timor-Leste, who are earnestly dedicating yourselves to the people, has made my everyday life in this country filled with joy throughout these three years. I sincerely thank each and every one of you.
Under the common slogan, “Let’s make the Distance between Timor-Leste and Japan, from 5,000km to 50km”, I and my Embassy staff are continually sending up-to-date information about Timor-Leste to the Japanese people. One of the examples is through our Embassy’s website we launched three years ago. Since then, the monthly number of viewers visiting the website has been increasing steadily, and in the month of August, we had around 145,000 viewings. Such record shows that Japanese people’s interest for Timor-Leste is increasing day by day; however, it is only the beginning. We are going to continue to put our efforts to send out various information about “Timor-Leste Today”, thus enhancing mutual understanding, and invigorating people to people interaction.
I myself want to continue to be with you even if I will have to leave from Rai Timor on the first day of October. I am going to establish the “Japan Timor-Leste Association (Associasaun Lorosa’e-Nippon)”. From my three years experience, I strongly feel the necessity of establishing such future-oriented organization. Respecting and building upon the well-established relationship between the Government of Timor-Leste and the Government of Japan, JICA, NGOs, I would like to complement the government-to-government relationship by means of this private association, wishing such efforts will contribute to broaden the horizons of the friendship between Timor-Leste and Japan.
The year 2012 will mark the 10th anniversary of the restoration of Independence, and also the establishment of diplomatic relations between Timor-Leste and many other countries, including Japan. As an “association”, I would like to play a proactive role in celebrating the 10th anniversaries.
At the same time, the year 2012 will be a crucial year in Timor-Leste, when the Presidential and Parliamentary elections will take place. I am confident that the elections will be conducted peacefully and democratically, and UNMIT will make a successful drawdown from Timor-Leste as a sign of full-fledged democracy taking place. A peaceful Timor-Leste will ensure high international credibility, increase investment and tourists, and get on track of the economic development. This is how Timor-Leste will be in 2012.
When Timor-Leste is facing a very important year, the new Ambassador, Mr. Yoshitaka Hanada, will arrive here. He is a distinguished career diplomat who has broad experiences of diplomatic activities. I am confident that Mr. Hanada will dedicate himself to the development of Timor-Leste and further strengthen our bilateral relationship. I would like to kindly ask for your warm support to Mr. Hanada just as you did to me.
Last but not least, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude for all the people of Timor-Leste, men and women, young and old, the government of Timor-Leste and the international community for their sincere friendship, solidarity and support extended to us in the wake of the March 11 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. We, the Japanese people, will always remember your altruism in a time of grave hardship. I would like to express my utmost thanks from the bottom of my heart.
I sincerely wish for happiness and well-being for the people of Timor-Leste, and peace and prosperity for Timor-Leste.
My wife and I are very happy that we met you, and spent time together here in Timor-Leste. We love you and this dearest country.
I am looking forward to seeing you in the near future! Today is the beginning of our beautiful friendship!
Thank you very much.
(c) Embassy of Japan in Timor-Leste Avenida de Portugal, Pantai Kelapa, Dili, Timor-Leste (P.O. Box 175) Tel: +670-3323131 Fax: +670-3323130