On this page you can access information relating to Portugal?s position on East Timor, Including an interview by the President of the Portuguese Republic on CNN, as well as additional information about East Timor.
EXCERPT FROM THE DECLARATION MADE BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC ON THE DAY OF THE AWARDING
OF THE 1996 NOBEL PEACE PRICE TO DOM XIMENES BELO AND DR. RAMOS HORTA, GIVEN OCTOBER 11,1996
"The Nobel Peace Price means that the Timorese are not alone and that their constant resistance against brutal oppression and their struggle for self-determination extend to a movement of solidarity without frontiers. The Timorese cause has become a major international cause.
Portugal and the Portuguese never gave up fighting to defend the rights of the Timorese community. Portugal will continue to cooperate with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, in complying with the mandate conferred upon it by the international community. Portugal will continue to defend, intransigently, the free and democratic exercise of East Timor's right to self-determination, under international supervision. This is our duty, as administrating power of East Timor, recognized as such by the United Nations. This is our solemn promise, in the name of the indestructible ties that unite us with the Timorese."
Timorese Question, A Short Summary (MNE)
Memorandum on Human Rights(MNE)
Interview with His Excellency, the President of the Republic at the time of the awarding of the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize to Dom Ximenes Belo and Dr. Ramos Horta
(audio version) )
CNN Video, 1997