Latest news with #Gusmao
The Star
27-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Gusmao does something sweet for the media
Little treats: Gusmao (left) giving sweets to members of the media assembled at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. — AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star KUALA LUMPUR: Media personnel covering the Asean-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit here were treated to an unexpected moment of warmth from Timor-Leste Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao. Leaders from Asean and GCC member states were attending the summit and journalists were waiting for a chance of doorstop interviews when the meeting concluded. At the end of the two-hour meeting, the leaders proceeded for lunch. That's when Gusmao did something unexpected. With a broad smile, he approached the waiting media and offered them candies. 'Take it, you've waited so long,' he said. The thoughtful gesture sparked smiles and appreciative laughter from the weary media practitioners, many of whom had not anticipated such a personal moment amid formalities. The Asean-GCC Summit, held in conjunction with the 46th Asean Summit, was aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation and regional relations between Asean and Gulf countries.
The Star
27-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Gusmao confident Timor-Leste will join bloc by year-end
KUALA LUMPUR: With most accession criteria met, Timor-Leste is aiming to wrap up its bid to join Asean by year-end, says Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao. He said this was based on the strong confidence and support expressed by member states in Timor-Leste's progress. 'I believe so,' Gusmao affirmed when asked about the likelihood of completing the accession process by the year-end. 'We will try our best. We've completed many criteria already, but of course there are still two or three things that we will have to do,' he told reporters when met at the 46th Asean Summit. Gusmao highlighted the remarkable solidarity shown by Asean member states towards Timor-Leste's bid. 'Yes, because everybody supports us ... everybody. It was incredible. 'You know why? Because they saw a small country, alone there,' he said. Timor-Leste first applied for the association's membership in 2011 and its journey towards Asean membership has been marked by significant milestones, including its observer status granted in 2022. In the run-up the summit, Malaysia, Laos and the Philippines have reiterated their support for Timor-Leste's full Asean membership. Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said that Asean is considering a proposal to set a timeline for Timor-Leste's full membership, even before it meets all legal requirements, possibly within five years. He said the move reflects Malaysia's Asean theme of inclusivity and sustainability, adding that Timor-Leste, as a regional country, deserves full membership. However, said Timor-Leste must put in extra effort to attain full Asean membership, including adopting key guidelines under the Asean Foreign Ministers' framework concerning the association's legal instruments. On the same issue, Asean secretary-general Dr Kao Kim Hourn noted that Timor-Leste is steadily carving its place in the regional grouping's family, with several milestones already achieved under the official roadmap.
New Straits Times
25-05-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Timor-Leste PM arrives in KL for Asean Summit
SEPANG: Timor-Leste Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao arrived here today to attend the 46th Asean Summit and Related Summits, which will begin tomorrow at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC). The aircraft carrying Gusmao and his delegation landed at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 3.45pm and they were greeted by Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad at Bunga Raya Complex. He then inspected a guard-of-honour mounted by 28 officers and personnel from the First Battalion Royal Ranger Regiment (Ceremonial). The 46th Asean Summit will be held on May 26 and 27, concurrently with two key high-level meetings - the 2nd Asean-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit and the inaugural Asean-GCC-China Summit. The 46th Asean Summit, held under Malaysia's Asean 2025 Chairmanship theme "Inclusivity and Sustainability", will bring together leaders from Asean member states to discuss regional issues and chart the future direction of Asean cooperation. — BERNAMA
Barnama
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Barnama
Timor-Leste PM Gusmao Arrives In KL For ASEAN Summit
SEPANG, May 25 (Bernama) — Timor-Leste Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao arrived here today to attend the 46th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits, which will begin tomorrow at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC). The aircraft carrying Gusmao and his delegation landed at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 3.45 pm and they were greeted by Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad at Bunga Raya Complex. He then inspected a guard-of-honour mounted by 28 officers and personnel from the First Battalion Royal Ranger Regiment (Ceremonial).
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
East Timor PM says Francis left legacy of reconciliation, tackled abuse
East Timor Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao told AFP on Friday that Pope Francis left a legacy of reconciliation but also confronted the issue of child abuse during a rare visit to Asia's youngest nation last year. The Argentine, who died on Monday, visited the impoverished Catholic-majority country in September, the first pontiff to go to East Timor since it won independence from Indonesia in 2002 after decades of conflict. Francis told leaders to do more on "every kind of abuse" and remember "the many children... whose dignity has been violated", confronting them about the issue after clergy members were implicated in several recent child abuse scandals. "I agree very much, I agree. His appeal was well-accepted," said Gusmao, a liberation hero who was East Timor's first president after independence. "Sometimes a country continues to be fragile because of abuse, abuse of power, and abuse in every aspect of life. This appeal is strongly accepted by us," he told AFP in an interview in the capital Dili. Recent abuse cases in East Timor include Nobel Peace Prize winner Bishop Carlos Ximenes Belo, who was accused of sexually assaulting young boys and was secretly sanctioned by the Vatican in 2020 and now lives in Portugal. Defrocked American priest Richard Daschbach was also found guilty in 2021 of abusing orphaned, disadvantaged girls and sentenced to 12 years in prison. Daschbach was once revered for saving children during the independence war but was defrocked by Francis in 2018. Gusmao courted controversy by visiting the disgraced priest for his birthday in 2021 while he was under house arrest. He had also defended Daschbach and said he should not be in prison. The Catholic church is one of East Timor's most powerful institutions, although Francis did not mention a specific case or acknowledge any Vatican responsibility in the abuse scandals during his visit. Child abuse survivors have said Francis made important steps within the Catholic church but that much more needed to be done. "For us the legacy is what (Francis) put in his message, in his appeal," Gusmao said, referring to Francis's call for "unity, harmony, to respect each other". "This is the legacy that we will preserve." - 'Defender' - Gusmao, who was jailed by occupying Indonesian forces, said Francis was a "defender of peace", referring to conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine. "The reconciliation amongst ourselves, this is more difficult than the process of reconciling with Indonesia," he said. "The impact (of Francis's message) is harmony, unity, dialogue. It is very important to the young people that sometimes get divided. The impact is extraordinary. Because what he said was religion, our tradition, and our heroes, never to forget them." He said what made Francis different to other pontiffs was "changing the way the church was behaving", handling the position with "more humility". Gusmao will not travel to the Vatican for Francis's funeral on Saturday, with East Timor to be represented by President Jose Ramos-Horta. Francis addressed what authorities said was nearly half of the country's 1.3 million people at a Mass on the outskirts of Dili during his visit. The pontiff -- only the second to visit East Timor after John Paul II in 1989 -- also emphasised the government's duty to look after the entire population, including the poorest. "He said, 'your wealth is your people'. Just to remind us that being in the government... not to serve ourselves, but to serve the people. To look after people," Gusmao said. "And that is why his visit was so wonderful." He hoped the next pope would "be the same, with the same character, with the same humility". "Rest in peace, Pope Francis." str-jfx/pbt
