Timor-Leste Country Statement
H.E. Bendito Freitas
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Timor-Leste
6th Ministerial Meeting of the g7+
Dili, Timor-Leste, 11 April 2025
Excellency Kay-Rala Xanana Gusmão, Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste and Eminent Person to the g7+ Excellency Kenyeh Barlay, Minister of Planning and Economic Development of Sierra Leone and Chair of g7+
Fellow Ministers, Deputy Ministers and Directors General representing g7+ countries
Dr. Helder da Costa, General Secretary of g7+ and Members of the Secretariat
Dear g7+ Observer Members
Your Excellencies
Let me start by underlining our leaders’ words during our Opening Session this morning regarding the rehabilitation of the Dili Conference Centre, the birthplace of our organisation g7+.
Fifteen years ago, when our national leader, H.E. Xanana Gusmão, Prime Minister of Timor-Leste and Eminent Person of g7+, decided to host the first meeting of fragile states, our country was amidst recovering from conflict.
Dili was, then, home to thousands of internally displaced people. As we lacked proper infrastructure for such an important gathering, the government decided to convert an abandoned bus terminal into what is the current Dili Convention Centre. What began as an improvised venue has since become a symbol of transformation – both for Timor-Leste and for g7+.
Timor-Leste stands as a testament to the power of perseverance, reconciliation and unity. Our long struggle for liberation and our first steps towards building a nation soon showed us that our independence and our future could only be built upon inner and regional peace.
Both the Commission for Reception, Truth and Reconciliation at national level and the Commission of Truth and Friendship between Timor-Leste and Indonesia played a determinant role in our peacebuilding process. We have proven that reconciliation is possible, and we are proud as we can testify that dialogue for peace can prevail.
Timor-Leste has, therefore, the moral duty to share this experience with other nations. It has not been without challenges, and there is still much ahead, but stability is giving us the chance to prepare our future, drafting our plans and working on our goals for sustainable development.
Ladies and gentlemen,
g7+ has achieved tremendous progress in attaining global recognition as an organization that represents the voice of conflict-affected countries.
Recent successes, such as our collective advocacy at COP29 in Baku, are not to be overlooked, as they underscore the impact of our unified voice.
Our organization has evolved into a beacon of solidarity, championing the causes of those who are often left forgotten in their conflict and in their fragility. Our nations have experienced war and instability, but we have also shown resilience. And, at this stage, we know what works and what does not in peacebuilding, and we must use this knowledge not only to support one another – through peer-to-peer cooperation, knowledge-sharing, fostering the Fragile-to-Fragile initiative – but also to inform the collective dialogue, enrich international action, demand mutual respect and ensure that our concerns are no longer overlooked in global discussions – and thus, together, we will overcome all our challenges.
Nevertheless, we all know that the world is still governed by division and conflict. Unfortunately, we see a world crumbling under extremism and intolerance, flooded with divisive oratory aimed at creating tensions and hatred. Every day, we are reminded by rhetoric or algorithms of what makes us different and are led to believe that these differences must offend us.
We overlook the fact that these differences are actually the vehicle for ideological and social development.
Instead, human beings have become mere instruments of greed with the war of economy at its peak in view of the recent American import rate policies, which will affect the living of so many people all over the world as well as global economy as a whole.
We seem, in the end, to forget the very essential, we forget what makes us equal: our humanity and our common wish to live a dignifying, just and fair life.
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen.
Allow me to express my deep solidarity with all nations and communities currently suffering from war or aggression. g7+ stands with those suffering due to current or past conflicts. All our member states know how frail conflict leaves us.
Let us, then, use our time and resources to build up our societies, not to divide them or destroy them. Let us build collective will for peace, as only peace can benefit us all. Let us give our people, our young generations, renewed hope for being able to live up to their fullest potential and aspirations.
Timor-Leste reaƯirms its commitment to continue supporting g7+ in its peacebuilding eƯorts, while advocating for mediation and reconciliation as central tools for preventing conflict and fostering national and regional cohesion.
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen.
Sadly, it is conflict-affected nations that suffer the most from all types of crises – from geopolitical tensions, economic instability, conflict, climate change to humanitarian emergencies.
We need to stand together with a unified voice in the face of these hardships, calling for customized assistance and cooperation, otherwise we will continue to be mere recipients of fragmented or casual aid and attention.
Our experiences have reinforced our belief in national ownership, in the idea that lasting peace and development can be finer achieved when led and shaped by the people of each country. We do rely on our international partners. It is, in fact, absolutely mandatory that a global network works on long term assistance for conflict-affected and disaster-struck nations.
Nevertheless, g7+ must be at the forefront of those initiatives, fostering support for peace, aid and sustainable development, while advocating for our specific needs and ensuring that development aid and partnerships engage fully with the New Deal principles.
Debt burdens remain a significant obstacle for fragile states seeking economic recovery. We advocate for a comprehensive approach to debt relief and for reforms in debt assessment frameworks accounting for the unique realities faced by crisis-prone economies.
Climate change further exacerbates vulnerabilities in conflict-affected regions. We call, therefore, for increased climate financing, specifically tailored to these countries’ needs. International climate finance mechanisms must be reformed to become more flexible, more accessible, and more responsive.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen
We believe that solidarity is our greatest strength and also the bond that brings hope for a more humane, inclusive and equitable world.
Nevertheless, the time has come for another step forward. The ratification of the g7+ Charter provides the institutional backbone for our continued work and signals the international community that we are serious, united, committed and coordinated. We, therefore, urge our fellow members to accelerate their domestic process to ratify the Charter.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Together we will continue striving towards a world where peace prevails over conflict, resilience triumphs over fragility, and sustainable development uplifts all communities. Our commitment to peacebuilding, state-building, and the promotion of democratic principles is unwavering, as is our dedication to upholding human values and the rule of law.
Let us move forward with resolve and hope!
Ensemble, nous sommes plus forts!
Thank you.