H.E. Mr. President, Speaker of the Parliament
Honourable Deputies
1. It is now past 100 days, for the Second Constitutional Government that was borne out of the crisis of May, June. This is a short time for challenging tasks...pacification, tranquility and public order, capacity for the State to acquire legitimacy, organise and prepare for free and fair elections. Before I proceed, I must state that it is the duty of the Government, and I believe that we have been achieving that; to be loyal to the people and their traditions; to be loyal to the political demands of the defence of democracy, tolerance, peace and happiness for all.
This is a Government that continues to be a Fretilin Government, borne from the democratic parliamentary majority-I have said that since the first hour. As Prime Minister, it is my duty to honour the commitments given by Fretilin to its consistency and to the Timorese people.
I want to praise the leadership of Fretilin and its members who in the worst of times knew always to react with seriousness, avoiding the worsening of the crisis. If Timor-Leste did not fall into a civil war, we owe that in part to the leadership of Fretilin, its cadres, militants and supporters.
I cannot go by without making a special reference to Mari Alkatiri, my friend, with whom I have worked for more than thirty years, in the struggle for the liberation of our country and the head of the government that initiated the majority of projects that the Government is now implementing.
As you all know he left yesterday for Lisbon, with his wife and daughter, to undertake his periodical medical exams that were prescribed to him since last year.
I must say, it is my duty to say, that the Prosecutor General, told me there was no legal impediment to his departure. I supported this temporary departure. I wish him a speedy recovery and his return to the country as soon as he is in good health.
Also deserving of praise and particular thanks are all the political parties who acted in a democratically responsible manner, towards achieving a peaceful resolution of political disputes.
I also praise the non-government organisations, that stayed here, thus saying no to violence.
More than anything else I would like to highlight the debt we owe to the Catholic Church, especially to its Bishops Dom Ricardo and Dom Basicilo, who worked intensively in the search for reconciliation, with some good results.
2. I assumed the responsibility, with pride to serve Timor-Leste as a member of the Government, a Government that has excellent people, in particular my two Deputy Prime Ministers-they are the true Prime Ministers.
My Government Colleagues without exception, have been dedicated and indispensable, and without them I would not be able to take on the tasks of the programme of the Government.
To place in context the tasks that the Government wants to and will achieve are to consolidate peace, democracy and development of the country.
However, how are we doing?
The presentation of the report of the first 100 days of Government is intended to be the start to the reply to this question-not an exhaustive reply but a limited reply to the more important areas of activity of the Government.
To tackle in a practical way, the needs of the population and the problems they asked the leaders to resolve, it was necessary to delegate broad competencies to the Deputy Prime Ministers, so that Government decision-making could be done quickly. Bureaucratic red tape is no longer unacceptable.
To facilitate the Government's initiatives in decentralisation, a process of forging partnerships with other entities and organisations, as they have a lot to offer the people of Timor-Leste.
Let us all work together in a harmonious way!
The Government effort however, cannot forget the construction of a strong and stable democratic society, that requires a concerted energy in dealing with the deepest origins of the recent disturbances.
It is in this direction that the Government has considered, as a priority, a good and fruitful relationship with the Church, recognising its singular historic experience, in concert with the deep spirituality of our people without secular and laity modernisms.
The Timorese Catholic Church is one of those unique institutions that is the glue that holds the social fabric together. Therefore, the Government invited the Catholic Church to assume a major role in education and development of our people in human development and the struggle against poverty.
It is not then surprising that this Government is waiting with high expectation, the opening of a third diocese in Timor-Leste and we are pressing for the establishment of a Nunciatura in Dili, representing the Vatican, at the same time that we are sending an Ambassador to the Holy See. It is in this context that I recently led a delegation to the Vatican and was received by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI.
I must refer to our Muslim and Protestant communities, although small in number, they have also played an important role.
Next I would like to point out some positive contributions of other development partners; but it is now necessary for a reflective pause about what has and has not functioned, to define new priorities that developed as a result of the crisis and to bring together in a common platform for recovery.
A compact between all parties-Government-UNMIT-multilateral and bilateral agencies and partners, are developing a compact with a view to a joining of all efforts and coordination of activities, for Timor-Leste's long term development.
3. The April-May crisis resulted in more than ten percent of the population being displaced-approximately 70,000 to the districts and more than sixty IDP camps were established in Dili.
In fact, they were only able to be established with the humanitarian support and solidarity of all the people and because of the special dedication and courage of priests, nuns and laity, school teachers, public servants, leaders and the population of the less affected suburbs, and NGO's. They were fantastic.
From the start of the crisis the material and spiritual support has been given, by the Timorese people who made themselves available to manage the camps without any material benefit; they have collaborated and continue to do so with the Government initiatives. The Government recognizes the leadership of the Camp Leaders and with all its partners is determined in supporting them in all their tasks and supporting them with materials.
Dialogue is the way for reconciliation, that the Government has taken since it was sworn in. Impressive highlights in this area are the excellent conversations and discussions sponsored by many Dili groups.
They have been encouraged by the Government and the Government has inserted itself in President Xanana's programme of national dialogue-and by the tremendous effort on the part of the Bishop's and the ecclesiastic community in general.
From the beginning of the crisis I have regularly visited IDP camps. This weekend, I will visit again the IDP camps, to encourage people to return home. Some members of PNTL and F-FDTL are going to accompany me on the visits to some of the camps, giving them confidence, and to raise their morale.
Our esteemed President of the Republic has been tireless in his efforts of dialogue with youth and adults, and with the leadership of PNTL and F-FDTL searching constantly for a solution for the crisis, trying to return peace and tranquility to our people.
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