The National Defence Minister of Portugal, José Pedro Aguiar Branco said his country his ready to provide training to the Timorese FALINTIL-Timorese Defence Forces (F-FDTL).
Minister Branco said Timor-Leste and Portugal has always had a close relationship and that Portugal is ready to help Timor-Leste build the capacity of F-FDTL personnel.
“We can help each other in the defence area and that is why I am pleased to meet with the Minister of Defence and Security of Timor-Leste,” said the Minister Branco, at the Governmental Palace Dili in late 2014.
Minister of Defence and Security and current Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao acknowledged Timor-Leste has been collaborating with Portugal since 2002 and that Portugal has provided substantial support to Timor-Leste in the area of defence.
“What we need the most now is to build the capacity of F-FDTL personnel so we still need Portugal’s support,” said PM Gusmão.
PM Gusmão discussions with his Portuguese counterpart included long-term plans for defence cooperation between the two nations.
He added that Timor-Leste has applied for adhesion into ASEAN and one of the criteria for adhesion relates to the defence capability of the applicant-nation. “We need to ensure stability,” said PM Gusmão.
MP Cesar Valente, member of parliament of Commission B (for security, defence, and foreign affairs) said many nations have already provided support to Timor-Leste in the area of defence, including Portugal, to build the capacity of F-FDTL personnel but the Timorese government must do more to improve conditions of its armed forces.
“Capacity building efforts needs to be in tandem with adequate conditions so that work can be more professional,” said MP Valente at the National Parliament in Dili.
