Remarks at a State Banquet in Honour of H.E. Jose Ramos Horta

Transcript
Remarks by
H.E. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
President of the Republic of Indonesia
At a State Banquet in Honour of
H.E. José Ramos-Horta
President of the Democratic Republic of
Timor Leste
State Palace, 5 June 2007



Your Excellency President José Ramos-Horta,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen,
First, let me extend a very warm welcome to you, Mr. President, and all the distinguished members of your delegation. We have met many times and in many places, but I am particularly pleased to receive your very first visit to Indonesia as President of your country.

Let me also congratulate you on your election to the highest position within the gift of the people of Timor Leste. On my behalf, Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda attended your inauguration ceremony in Dili. Hassan has told me that you delivered a moving speech in 4 languages, and indeed received a big applause from the audience when you started speaking in Bahasa Indonesia.

So let me say this to you, Mr. President :
“HAU HAKSOLOK TEBES / BA ITA NIA VISITA IDA NEE. HAU HAKARAK HATO’O KATAK / HAU SEI HAF / OUN HAU NIA KOMITMENTU / HODI SERVISO HAMUTUK HO SUA EXCELENCIA / HODI HAMETIN LIU TAN RELASAUN INDONESIA HO TIMOR LESTE”

For my Indonesian friends who do not YET speak Tetum, let me translate what I just said to President Horta: “I am very pleased to welcome you here. I wish to renew my commitment to work ever closely with you to strengthen Indonesia – Timor Leste relations.”

Mr. President,
Your Presidency begins at a momentous time in the history of your young country. By successfully holding free and fair Presidential elections, Timor Leste has spoken loud and clear to the world that you are a vibrant democracy. And by electing you President, the people of Timor Leste gave due recognition to the services and the sacrifices you have made for their sake. They also demonstrated their trust in your ability to lead on the road of peace and progress.

Upon your shoulder, Mr. President, rest the hopes and aspirations of the good people of Timor Leste for a better future. And in you, Mr. President, the countries in this region place their trust for the attainment of a strong, peaceful and prosperous democracy in Timor Leste. Timor Leste’s success is important for Indonesia, because, as close neighbors, your success is our success!

I say this earnestly because we in Indonesia are very much aware of the enormous challenges that await you as you lead your nation. Your visionary leadership, personal integrity and international experience will make all the difference in the world to Timor Leste.

As a brother and friend, I can only tell you that we in Indonesia TOO have experienced severe trials and tribulations recently. Yet, we faced these problems with courage, and we overcame. We therefore share your every pain and joy, and we offer you our full support for your noble efforts to deliver progress and prosperity for Timor Leste.

This, I am sure, was evident from our very constructive talks today, Mr. President, where we discussed bilateral issues ranging from border cooperation; the CTF; trade and investment; cultural and educational opportunities; people-to-people contacts; diplomatic collaboration and many more. Without going into the details of these sectors, what was immediately obvious to me during our discussions was the fact that there is a great scope to expand and deepen our relations.

Mr. President, you are admired and trusted here in Indonesia. In the last few years, you have paid several visits to Indonesia in your capacity as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation and later as Prime Minister of Timor-Leste.

I was of course delighted when you expressed to me, during our recent telephone conversation that your very first state visit soon after your presidential inauguration would be to Indonesia. I have not forgotten that at the very beginning of your tenure as Prime Minister of Timor Leste last year, you also made it a point to pay a state visit to Indonesia before visiting any other country.

We in Indonesia deeply appreciate these gestures of friendship because we attach great importance to the fraternal relations and strategic cooperation between our two countries. And this visit of yours, I am sure, will add momentum to our friendship and cooperation.

It greatly helps and it matters a lot that between Your Excellency and my self, a genuine personal friendship has developed and has been nurtured. This friendship is a reflection of the close and special relations between our countries.

It matters a great deal that both Timor Leste and Indonesia are democracies. For democracies have a natural tendency to work together in the pursuit of shared ideals and to come to each other’s aid in times of adversity.

Moved by democratic ideals and with a sense of a shared destiny, we have taken a forward-looking and constructive approach to our bilateral relations. With this positive approach, we can amicably settle whatever issues that face us and stand together to confront the challenges of our time.

We can seize the many opportunities before us for mutually beneficial cooperation in such areas as investment and trade, manufacturing and distribution as well as finance.

I do feel that we need to actively entice our respective private sectors in our economic cooperation, while our Governments provide facilitation and policy support. Bank Mandiri, Pertamina and Merpati have done a wonderful job in Timor Leste, but we do need to get many others into the picture.

I also expect our bilateral cooperation at the people-to-people level to move forward with ease, considering the cultural affinity that has developed between us over the years.

In those instances where we can help, we will always be there for you. As I speak, we are ready to extend a helping hand. We are especially prepared to assist in terms of capacity building and technical cooperation.

For we in Indonesia believe in this precept: “If two men are one in heart, mountains and oceans cannot keep them apart. If two men do not share common ideals, there will be a great distance between them though they stand side by side. That is why some people travel across mountains and waters to meet, and others never make contact with each other though they stay together.”

Timor Leste and Indonesia are one in heart, there is no doubt about it. We are close to each other not because of geography but because we are bound together by shared ideals and a shared dream of peace and progress.

I look forward, Mr. President, to months and years of working closely with you for the benefit of our peoples and for the ideals and principles that we live by.

May I now request every one to raise and join me in a toast to the health and success of His Excellency President José Ramos Horta and to the progress and prosperity of our two countries.

Thank you.



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Bureau for Press and Media Affairs
Presidential Householf