East Timorese PM speaks at UNSW

11 October 2006

Dr Jose Ramos-Horta, the Prime Minister of East Timor, outlined his concerns for his country and a vision for its future when he presented a major address at UNSW last night.

“Today we (the East Timorese government) struggle to maintain ideals of freedom and justice. It is four years since East Timor’s independence and we are still faced with the huge challenge of creating a functioning government,” he said.

Delivering the inaugural Hal Wootten Lecture, Dr Ramos-Horta acknowledged that the May 2006 crisis was a major setback not only for the country’s security but for the systems which protect that security – the police and the judiciary. While critical of some aspects of the UN administration, he also acknowledged that the East Timorese Government, in which he had served as Foreign Minister, had to take partial responsibility for recent events.

He spoke with hope for his country’s future and praised the professionalism of the Australian and other international troops currently serving there.

Dr Ramos-Horta has had a long and close relationship with the Faculty of Law at UNSW. As an exiled campaigner for the independence of East Timor he was welcomed into the Faculty as a Visiting Fellow in 1989 where he established the Diplomacy Training Program.

In welcoming Dr Ramos-Horta back to the University the Chancellor, David Gonski, acknowledged that relationship saying, “In 1989 Jose Ramos-Horta came here and made his mark. He worked with Professor Nettheim to establish the Diplomacy Training Program, which was his idea and became a reality.”

Professor Hal Wootten AC QC was the Foundation Dean of the Faculty of Law at UNSW. The Hal Wooten Lecture commemorates his founding vision for the Faculty.

During his speech Dr Ramos-Horta acknowledged Professor Wootten, describing his dedication to social justice as ‘inspiring generations of students’.

“East Timor as a nation is attempting to match Professor Wootten’s life-long commitment to healing the scars of the past,” he said.

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