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JOB/ACC/TLS/11  
 
31 July 2023  
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Working Party on the Accession of Timor -Leste  Original: English  
 
ACCESSION OF TIMOR -LESTE  
GENERAL COUNCIL ITEM 12: BRIEFING ON THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN THE ACCESSION OF 
TIMOR -LESTE – REQUEST FROM PORTUGAL  
Statement by H.E. Ambassador Maria de Lurdes Martins de Sousa Bessa, Permanent 
Representative of Timor -Leste to the U NOG 
25 July 2023 
1. On behalf of the Government of Timor -Leste, I would like to commence by expressing our 
heartfelt  appreciation to  our Working  Party Chairperson,  Ambassador Rui  Macieira,  and team, for the 
continued tremendous support and for the comprehensive briefing provided today.  
2. Timor -Leste remains committed to concluding its accession to the World Trade Organization 
without delay, and we count on the support and guidance of the WTO membership.  
3. As indicated  by Ambassador Rui Macieira, Timor -Leste has already signed and deposited to  
the Secretariat the bilateral protocols with 7 countries and the European Union, whom we thank. We 
have also concluded our  bilateral negotiations with Thailand and expect  to sign the protocol shortly. 
Moreover, we are consistently advancing on our bilateral negotiations with the United States and 
Indonesia, and we are committed to reaching an agreement at the earliest possible.  
4. On the multilateral track, I am pleased to highlight m y Government's remarkable progress in 
the reform of our domestic legislation for adoption in the accession and post -accession periods in 
different areas.  
5. If any Member  has any question related  to the accession,  we are  ready  to engage  and discuss, 
including during the summer break, to finalize all remaining issues expeditiously before the next 
Working Party meeting.  
6. Both our President of the Republic, H.E. Dr José Ramos -Horta, and our Prime -Minister, 
H.E. Mr Kay Rala Xanana  Gusmão,  who are well know n to this  Organization,  have publicly  declared 
their strong and unwavering support to Timor -Leste's accession to the WTO, highlighting the 
importance of this membership in the development of a strong economic foundation that is essential  
for our country's  sustainable  and inclusive  development.  As highlighted,  I wish to outline that 
accession to the WTO is a matter of national strategic priority for Timor -Leste, together with 
integration to ASEAN.  
7. I seize this opportunity to announce the appointment of H.E Mr Francisco Kalbuadi Lay, 
Vice-Prime Minister, Coordinator Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister of Tourism and 
Environment as our new Chief Negotiator to lead Timor -Leste's accession to WTO, and 
Mr Jorge  Martins as the New Team Coordinator to lead th e technical work.  
8. Timor -Leste remains committed to acceding to the WTO at the 13th Ministerial Conference in 
Abu Dhabi, in February 2024, and, in this respect, we ask for your unshaken support.  
9. I wish to conclude by taking this opportunity to deeply thank Director -General 
Ngozi  Okonjo -Iweala, Director Maika Oshikawa, Ms Anna Varyanik, a nd all the colleagues of the 
Accessions Division, as well as all the Members of this Organization who actively engage in our 
accession process, for their most appreciated dedication and support.  
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