The President of the National Parliament, Aaron Noah de Jesus da Costa Amaral, accompanied by his Vice Presidents and the Secretary of the Bureau, held a meeting with the United States Ambassador to East Timor, Kathleen M. Fitzpatrick, and her team, on June 4, 2019, in the Office of the President of the National Parliament.
Strengthening Democratic Ties
The purpose of the meeting was the presentation by the Ambassador of two speakers from the House Democracy Partnership of the United States of America, one from the Democratic Party and one from the Republican Party. These speakers were invited to share their experience and insights with the members of the National Parliament of Timor-Leste at a seminar held on June 7, 2019 in the National Parliament building.
At this meeting, the President of the National Parliament thanked and appreciated the continued support of the International Republican Institute (IRI) in helping to fortify relations between Timor-Leste and the United States of America. Such exchanges are seen as an important part of Timor-Leste’s ongoing democratic development since independence.
Support for the National Parliament Secretariat
Following the meeting with the President of the National Parliament, the Ambassador and her team also met with the Secretary-General and the Deputy Secretary-General of the National Parliament. During this additional session, the parties discussed the necessary support from the General Secretariat in organising and facilitating the upcoming seminar. The event represented another step in the growing partnership between Timor-Leste’s legislative institutions and the United States, reflecting mutual interest in strengthening democratic governance across the Asia-Pacific region.