EAST TIMOR: general data population according to the latest census (1990): 747,750 total population according to the estimate of midyear 2000: 750,000 // - ; 2002: 949,000 population density: 51 per sq.km = 133 per sq.mi population growth: 1,7% //; - doubling time: ca 40 years birth rate: 32 - 36 per 1000 death rate: 15 - 17 per 1000 fertility rate: ?

children per female maternal mortality: per 100,000 infant mortality (1-4 years): per 1000 life expectancy: 45 years (male: 44; female: 46) age breakdown: 0-14 years: % //; - 15-59 years: % //; - 60+ years: % urbanisation: % //; - urbanisation growth: % percentage of urban population in the greatest city: % Ethnic composition, language, religion languages: Portuguese, Tetum, Bahasa Indonesia, English religious affiliation: Roman Catholic 86%; Muslim and other 14% Health daily food intake: calories per capita population with access to safe water: % people per physician: Economic activities in agriculture, fisheries, industry, mining, services, energy land use: arable land: % //; - grass land: % //; - wooded area: % //; - arid land and desert: % agriculture: labour force: % //; - part of agriculture in GDP: % agricultural products: rice, maize, cassava, (sweet) potatoes, soybeans, cabbages, mangoes, bananas livestock (1000's): buffal

oes: 69 / cattle: 137 / ducks: 28 / goats: 187 / horses: 32 / pigs: 378 / poultry: 1021 / sheep: 32 fish catch: 513 metric tonnes industry: labour force: % //; - part of industry in GDP: % industrial products: food processing, construction materials, petroleum products mining products: of no importance CO2 emission per capita: services: labour force: % //; - part of services in GDP: % energy use (kg per capita): electricity use (per capita): annual water use (per capita): Traffic, communication road network: km //; - of which paved: % //; - of which are motorways: km vehicles: per 1000 railways: 0 km //; - railways passenger/km: - navigable inland waterways: km ownership radio receivers: per 1000 ownership tv-sets: per 1000 East Timor or Timor-Leste | Facts and History Dili, population about 150,000.

Government: East Timor is a parliamentary democracy, in which the President is Head of State and the Prime Minister is Head of Government. The President is directly elected to this largely ceremonial post; he or she appoints the leader of the majority party in parliament as Prime Minister. The President serves for five years. The Prime Minister is head of the Cabinet, or Council of State. He also leads the single-house National Parliament. The highest court is called the Supreme Court of Justice. Jose Ramos-Horta is the current President of East Timor. The Prime Minister is Xanana Gusmao. Population: East Timor's population is around 1.2 million, although no recent census data exist. The country is growing quickly, due both to returning refugees and to a high birth rate. The people of East Timor belong to dozens of ethnic groups, and intermarriage is common. Some of the largest are the Tetum, around 100,000 strong; the Mambae, at 80,000; the Tukudede, at 63,000; and the Galoli, Kemak, and Bunak, all with about 50,000 people.

continue reading below our video 10 Best Universities in the United States There are also small populations of people with mixed Timorese and Portuguese ancestry, called mesticos, as well as ethnic Hakka Chinese (around 2,400 people). Official Languages: The official languages of East Timor are Tetum and Portuguese. English and Indonesian are "working languages." Tetum is an Austronesian language in the Malayo-Polynesian family, related to Malagasy, Tagalog, and Hawaiian. It is spoken by about 800,000 people world-wide. Colonists brought Portuguese to East Timor in the sixteenth century, and the Romance language has influenced Tetum to a large degree. Other commonly-spoken languages include Fataluku, Malalero, Bunak, and Galoli. Religion: An estimated 98 per cent of East Timorese are Roman Catholic , another legacy of Portuguese colonization. The remaining two per cent are divided almost evenly between Protestants and Moslems. A significant proportion of Timorese also retain some traditional animist beliefs and customs from pre-colonial times.

Geography: East Timor covers the eastern half of Timor, the largest of the Lesser Sunda Islands in the Malay Archipelago. It covers an area of about 14,600 square kilometers, including one non-contiguous piece called the Ocussi-Ambeno region, in the northwest of the island. The Indonesian province of East Nusa Tenggara lies to the west of East Timor. East Timor is a mountainous country; the highest point is Mount Ramelau at 2,963 meters (9,721 feet). The lowest point is sea level. Climate: East Timor has a tropical monsoon climate, with a wet season from December to April, and a dry season from May through November. During the wet season, average temperatures range between 29 and 35 degrees Celsius (84 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit). In the dry season, temperatures average 20 to 33 degrees Celsius (68 to 91 Fahrenheit). The island is susceptible to cyclones. It also experiences seismic events such as earthquakes and tsunamis, as it lies on the faultlines of the Pacific Ring of Fire .

Economy: The economy of East Timor is in shambles, neglected under Portuguese rule, and deliberately sabotaged by occupation troops during the war for independence from Indonesia. As a result, the country is among the poorest in the world. Close to half of the population lives in poverty, and as many as 70 per cent face chronic food insecurity. Unemployment hovers around the 50 per cent mark, as well. The per capita GDP was only about $750 U.S. in 2006. East Timor's economy should improve in coming years. Plans are underway to develop off-shore oil reserves, and the price of cash crops like coffee is rising. Prehistoric Timor: The inhabitants of Timor are descended from three waves of migrants. The first to settle the island, Vedo-Australoid people related to Sri Lankans, arrived between 40,000 and 20,000 B.C. A second wave of Melanesian people around 3,000 B.C. drove the original inhabitants, called Atoni, up into the interior of Timor. The Melanesians were followed by Malay and Hakka people from southern China .

Most of the Timorese practiced subsistence agriculture. Frequent visits from sea-going Arab, Chinese, and Gujerati traders brought in metal goods, silks, and rice; the Timorese exported beeswax, spices, and fragrant sandalwood. History of Timor, 1515-present: By the time the Portuguese made contact with Timor in the early sixteenth century, it was divided into a number of small fiefdoms. The largest was the kingdom of Wehale, composed of a mixture of Tetum, Kemak, and Bunak peoples. Portuguese explorers claimed Timor for their king in 1515, lured by the promise of spices. For the next 460 years, the Portuguese controlled the eastern half of the island, while the Dutch East India Company took the western half as part of its Indonesian holdings. The Portuguese ruled coastal regions in cooperation with local leaders, but had very little influence in the mountainous interior.

Although their hold on East Timor was tenuous, in 1702 the Portuguese officially added the region to their empire, renaming it "Portuguese Timor." Portugal used East Timor mainly as a dumping ground for exiled convicts. The formal boundary between the Dutch and Portuguese sides of Timor was not drawn until 1916, when the modern-day border was fixed by the Hague. In 1941, Australian and Dutch soldiers occupied Timor, hoping to fend off an anticipated invasion by the Imperial Japanese Army. Japan seized the island in February of 1942; the surviving Allied soldiers then joined with local people in guerilla war against the Japanese. Japanese reprisals against the Timorese left about one in ten of the island's population dead, a total of more than 50,000 people. After the Japanese surrender in 1945, control of East Timor was returned to Portugal. Indonesia declared its independence from the Dutch, but made no mention of annexing East Timor. In 1974, a coup in Portugal moved the country from a rightist dictatorship to a democracy.

The new regime sought to disentangle Portugal from its overseas colonies, a move that the other European colonial powers had made some 20 years earlier. East Timor declared its independence in 1975. In December of that year, Indonesia invaded East Timor, capturing Dili after just six hours of fighting. Jakarta declaring the region the 27th Indonesian province. This annexation, however, was not recognized by the UN. Over the next year, between 60,000 and 100,000 Timorese were massacred by Indonesian troops, along with five foreign journalists. Timorese guerillas kept fighting, but Indonesia did not withdraw until after the fall of Suharto in 1998. When the Timorese voted for independence in an August, 1999 referendum, Indonesian troops destroyed the country's infrastructure. East Timor joined the UN on September 27, 2002. East Timor Information East Timor Information 14,609 sq km (5641 sq miles).

Geography East Timor makes up the eastern half of the island of Timor (the western half belongs to Indonesia ) which is situated off the northern coast of Western Australia . Also included within East Timor is the Oekussi Ambeno enclave on the northwest coast of the island, as well as the islands of Ataï¿½ro (Pulo Cambing) and Jaco (Pulo Jako). East Timor is mountainous in the interior. Capital Dili. Population : 50,800 (estimate 2003). Government Republic. Declared full independence 20 May 2002 after the UN Transitional Authority in East Timor (UNTAET) had run the country for nearly 3 years during its transition to independence. Prior to UNTAET, the country had been under Indonesian control since 1975. President : Xanana Gusmao since May 2002. Prime Minister : Mari Alkatiri since May 2002. Language Tetum is the main dialect and is the official language along with Portuguese; English is often used for administrative purposes (due to the high numbers of English-speaking relief and UN workers still working in East Timor).

More than 30 other languages are also used in East Timor. Religion Christian majority with 86 per cent Catholic. Islam and Animist religions are also practised. Time Time : GMT + 8., Electricity : 220 V, 50 Hz. Electricity supplies may be erratic with many power cuts. Population Population : 737,811 (2001)., Population density : 50.5 per sq km. Communications Telephone : International calls can be made from and to Dili. The code for Dili is 390. Mobile Telephone : Coverage provided by Timor Telecom International in and around Dili and other main urban areas. International roaming agreements are stilll being set up but cannot be relied upon as yet. In some parts of the country, however, telephone communication may still only be possible with satellite telephones. Fax : Facilities exist in Dili in major organizations and hotels Internet : Facilities are not generally available to the public at the present time. Post : A limited postal service does exist. Press : The Timor Post is published daily in English; Tais Timor is published every fortnight in English.

Radio : BBC World Service (website : ) and Voice of America (website : ) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online. East Timor: a nation divided | openDemocracy East Timor: a nation divided Loro Horta 8 June 2006 Subjects: politics of protest About the author Loro Horta worked in Mozambique for several years, and served as an advisor to East Timors defence department The terrifying civil conflict engulfing the tiny half-island nation of East Timor is the most traumatic moment in a country that secured its independence only in May 2002 after a quarter-century of occupation by its giant neighbour Indonesia. The violence has since 28 April 2006 cost the lives of at least thirty people, led more than 100,000 to flee the capital, Dili, and created calamitous destruction across the territory.

The immediate origins of the crisis in East Timor (Timor-Leste in Portuguese, Timor Lorosa'e in the dominant indigenous language of Tetum) lay in a serious political miscalculation: the decision to sack 600 soldiers (from a national army of 1,400) who had gone on strike in March in protest at what they perceived as regional favouritism in allocating military promotions and benefits towards those from the east of the country. A simmering dispute over the issue, in which armed factions on either side started to organise and polarise, eventually exploded in April-May into a series of riots, assaults and internecine struggles. However, the East Timor convulsions are rooted also in deeper sources, including the painful legacy of the long years (1975-99) of Indonesian occupation and the post-independence political rivalries involving some of the young state's leading figures and institutions. The violence of April-June 2006, then, needs to be understood in the context of the first formative years of the new nation .

The most important political fracture underlying East Timor's social tragedy divides the president ( Xanana Gusmao , hero of the independence struggle) and the prime minister (Mari Alkatiri). President Xanana's faction includes the country's respected foreign minister José Ramos Horta , and also has significant support in the Catholic church to which 92% of Timorese people belong. Mari Alkatiri's power-base is among hardliners in the dominant Frente Revolucionária do Timor-Leste Independente (Fretilin) party. The rebel soldiers and street-mobs who have instigated most of the violence are little more than side-effects of the power-struggle between the two main political groups. Loro Horta earned degrees at Sydney University and Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. He worked in Mozambique for several years, and served as an advisor to East Timor's defence department. He is the son of East Timor's foreign minister, José Ramos Horta. The views expressed in this article are his own.

Also by Loro Horta on the crisis of April-June 2006 in East Timor: " As East Timor burns " (Asia Times, 27 May 2006) Lukeno Ribeiro Alkatiri, the son of East Timor's prime minister Mari Alkatiri, writes a response to the latter article; see " The voice of the Timorese people " (Asia Times, 1 June 2006) A dangerous rivalry The Alkatiri-Xanana rivalry started as early as March 2001 during the first Conselho Nacional de Resistência Timorense (CNRT) congress in Dili. The CNRT was an umbrella organisation created in Portugal in April 1998 as a mechanism to unify the various Timorese political groups. After the liberation of the country, both Xanana and Ramos Horta wanted to transform the CNRT into a political party of national unity to avoid future political factionalism. However, Mari Alkatiri  already in control of Fretilin, then as now the country's largest political party  refused, and pressed for the dissolution of the council.

Alkatiri was a relatively obscure figure who had spent the twenty-four years of struggle for national liberation in exile in Mozambique, where he is known to have had close links with various Marxist and communist groups. Fretilin's role in the campaign for independence, which included brave resistance to Indonesian occupation against overwhelming odds, secured for the party an almost mythical status among many Timorese. Most of the party's leaders, including Nicolao Lobato and Vicente Sahe , were killed during the struggle; other surviving founding members, such as Ramos Horta and Xanana themselves, left the party in the early 1990s to become independent figures for the sake of national unity. With most of Fretilin's leaders dead or no longer inside the party, Alkatiri was able to assume control almost by default. The esteem in which Fretilin was held meant that whoever controlled the party could win the government . Fretilin was the vehicle by which Mari Alkatiri gained power in East Timor.

Mari Alkatiri used his dominance of the party to frustrate Xanana Gusmao and José Ramos Horta's plan to remodel the CNRT (which had confined Alkatiri to a minor position) and instead forced the umbrella organisation's dissolution. Fretilin's dominance in parliament then enabled Alkatiri to hinder Gusmao's attempts to draft a constitution that gave substantial powers to the president; the constitution eventually adopted was to render Gusmao, the man who had made the utmost sacrifices for the nation, a mere ceremonial figure. Xanana retaliated by not so discreetly supporting the two main opposition parties (the Democratic Party [PD] and the Social Democrat Party [PSD]) as a way to balance Fretilin's political dominance. This high-level rivalry between president and prime minister became entwined with the internal politics of the security forces, leading the police and army to be divided into pro-Xanana and pro-Alkatiri forces. This factionalism is further exacerbated by regional and ethnic tensions within East Timor. The internal east-west divide in particular, never a serious problem in the past, has been exploited by many opportunistic politicians who have unleashed passions that threaten to get out of their or anyone else's control.

The role of the church Alkatiri's style of leadership, characterised by arrogance and confrontation , has made an influential local enemy: the Catholic church. The church's leaders detest Alkatiri's perceived excessive secularism and his alleged communist tendencies. In May 2005, there was extensive opposition to Alkatiri's decision to make religious education in schools optional rather than (as desired by the church) compulsory. The prime minister responded in a notably cavalier and rude manner; he declared, for example, that he was unworried about the church protests because "since I know I'm going to hell, who cares". Such comments won him few friends among the Catholic church's followers in a country where the institution is a respected part of the fabric of social life. The fact that Alkatiri is himself a Muslim and of Arab origin (the descendant of Yemeni settlers) in an overwhelming Catholic nation means that his combative style is even more likely to reinforce the more conservative and racist elements in the church. The church's displeasure with Alkatiri is reflected in insulting descriptions of him from some of East Timor's influential bishops, of which "communist prostitute" is one of the more printable.

The mobilisation of fear The corrosion of political authority in East Timor was reflected in a collapse in morale in the national police force (PNTL) as well as widespread allegations of human-rights abuse . The minister of police until recently, Rogerio Lobato, had been imprisoned in Angola for four years on diamond-trafficking charges in the early 1980s, and was widely known to be corrupt. The decay of the PNTL was further reflected in massive desertions that led to the effective end of the institution. A further source of instability has been the numerous grupos de artes marcias (martial-arts groups). During Indonesia's occupation, many young Timorese joined these groups as a way to defend themselves under its rigours and to channel energies which could not easily find other forms of legitimate expression. Most were and are dedicated to sports, but some members turned to crime and many were used by the Indonesian military as thugs and mobs for hire. After independence, Timor-Leste inherited dozens of these associations, which continued to engage in illegal gambling, smuggling and extortion. The largest, the gorkas, is believed to number some 10,000 members.

These gangs use the opportunity of social protests and political disputes to plunder and steal. Their members have in general little political motivation, and are attracted mainly by the prospects of reward from looting shops and other private property. The calimao 2000 group, for example, is coming to resemble a collection of professional thugs for hire. The high levels of unemployment in the country (more than 50%, and as high as 70% in Dili) provide an enormous source of recruits for such groups. Some gangs, however, are affiliated with certain individuals who have political ambitions. For instance, the sagrada familia clan has close links with a former guerrilla commander, Furai Bot , who has been opposing the government since 2001. A political catharsis The fact that someone like Mari Alkatiri was able to end up as the most powerful man in East Timor is a serious historical anomaly. To some extent the unfinished crisis of April-June 2006 can be regarded as a correction of this anomaly, one that should have happened peacefully and constitutionally.

There are slow signals of political change, especially a diminution in the authority of Mari Alkatiri: as a result of the crisis, he has been forced to relinquish to Ramos Horta his authority over the police and defence portfolios. In this perspective, a historical anomaly has begun to be addressed  though at a price that has proved terrible for East Timor and its people. Three recent developments involving the international community  the security assistance delivered by East Timor's regional neighbours (Australia and Malaysia) and ex-colonial power (Portugal); the agreement on a United Nations investigation into the crisis; and the 18million development aid agreed by the European Union on 9 June  together offer further hope that East Timor can turn the corner once the immediate crisis has passed. At the same time, Mari Alkatiri's refusal to resign as prime minister, and his declared intention of running again in the 2007 elections, do not augur well.

The hurricane of disorder in East Timor cannot be attributed to one figure, but as long as Alkatiri remains in power  hidden behind the protective shield of Fretilin  this poor little country's future will remain a hostage to a political manipulation and division that it cannot afford. We encourage anyone to comment, please consult the The World Factbook — Central Intelligence Agency Background: The Portuguese began to trade with the island of Timor in the early 16th century and colonized it in mid-century. Skirmishing with the Dutch in the region eventually resulted in an 1859 treaty in which Portugal ceded the western portion of the island. Imperial Japan occupied Portuguese Timor from 1942 to 1945, but Portugal resumed colonial authority after the Japanese defeat in World War II. East Timor declared itself independent from Portugal on 28 November 1975 and was invaded and occupied by Indonesian forces nine days later. It was incorporated into Indonesia in July 1976 as the province of Timor Timur (East Timor).

An unsuccessful campaign of pacification followed over the next two decades, during which an estimated 100,000 to 250,000 people died. In an August 1999 UN-supervised popular referendum, an overwhelming majority of the people of Timor-Leste voted for independence from Indonesia. However, in the next three weeks, anti-independence Timorese militias - organized and supported by the Indonesian military - commenced a large-scale, scorched-earth campaign of retribution. The militias killed approximately 1,400 Timorese and forced 300,000 people into western Timor as refugees. Most of the country's infrastructure, including homes, irrigation systems, water supply systems, and schools, and nearly all of the country's electrical grid were destroyed. On 20 September 1999, Australian-led peacekeeping troops deployed to the country and brought the violence to an end. On 20 May 2002, Timor-Leste was internationally recognized as an independent state. In 2006, internal tensions threatened the new nation's security when a military strike led to violence and a breakdown of law and order.

At Dili's request, an Australian-led International Stabilization Force (ISF) deployed to Timor-Leste, and the UN Security Council established the UN Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT), which included an authorized police presence of over 1,600 personnel. The ISF and UNMIT restored stability, allowing for presidential and parliamentary elections in 2007 in a largely peaceful atmosphere. In February 2008, a rebel group staged an unsuccessful attack against the president and prime minister. The ringleader was killed in the attack, and most of the rebels surrendered in April 2008. Since the attack, the government has enjoyed one of its longest periods of post-independence stability, including successful 2012 elections for both the parliament and president and a successful transition of power in February 2015. In late 2012, the UN Security Council ended its peacekeeping mission in Timor-Leste and both the ISF and UNMIT departed the country.

Geography :: TIMOR-LESTE Location: Southeastern Asia, northwest of Australia in the Lesser Sunda Islands at the eastern end of the Indonesian archipelago; note - Timor-Leste includes the eastern half of the island of Timor, the Oecussi (Ambeno) region on the northwest portion of the island of Timor, and the islands of Pulau Atauro and Pulau Jaco Executive branch: chief of state: President Taur Matan RUAK, aka Jose Maria de VASCONCELOS (since 20 May 2012); note - the president plays a largely symbolic role but is the commander in chief of the military and is able to veto legislation, dissolve parliament, and call national elections head of government: Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana GUSMAO - formerly Jose Alexandre GUSMAO (since 8 August 2007); Vice Prime Minister Fernando "Lasama" de ARAUJO (since 8 August 2012) cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister and appointed by the president elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a

 second term); election last held on 17 March 2012 with a runoff on 16 April 2012; following parliamentary elections, the president appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as the prime minister election results: Taur Matan RUAK elected president in runoff; percent of vote - Taur Matan RUAK (independent) 61.2%, Francisco GUTTERES (Frenti-Mudanca) 38.8% description: unicameral National Parliament (65 seats; members directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms) elections: elections were held on 7 July 2012 (next to be held in July 2017) election results: percent of vote by party - CNRT 36%, FRETILIN 30%, PD 10%, Frenti-Mudanca 3%, others 21%; seats by party - CNRT 30, FRETILIN 25, PD 8, Frenti-Mudanca 2 Judicial branch: highest court(s): Supreme Court of Justice (consists of the court president and NA judges)

 judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court president appointed by the president of the republic from among the other court judges to serve a 4-year term; other Supreme Court judges appointed - 1 by the Parliament and the others by the Supreme Council for the Judiciary, a body presided by the Supreme Court president and includes mostly presidential and parliamentary appointees; other Supreme Court judges appointed for life subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; High Administrative, Tax, and Audit Court; district courts; magistrates' courts; military courts note: the UN Justice System Programme, launched in 2003 in 4 phases through 2018, is helping strengthen the country's justice system; the Programme is aligned with the country's long-range Justice Sector Strategic Plan, which includes legal reform Democratic Party or PD [Fernando "Lasama" de ARAUJO] Frenti-Mudanca [Jose Luis GUTERRES] National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction or CNRT [Kay Rala Xanana GUSMAO] Revolutionary Front of Independent Timor-Leste or FRETILIN [Mari ALKATIRI] (only parties in Parliament are listed) chief of mission: Ambassador Karen STANTON (since 16 January

 2015) embassy: Avenida de Portugal, Praia dos Coqueiros, Dili mailing address: US Department of State, 8250 Dili Place, Washington, DC 20521-8250 telephone: (670) 332-4684 Flag description: red with a black isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) superimposed on a slightly longer yellow arrowhead that extends to the center of the flag; a white star - pointing to the upper hoist-side corner of the flag - is in the center of the black triangle; yellow denotes the colonialism in Timor-Leste's past; black represents the obscurantism that needs to be overcome; red stands for the national liberation struggle; the white star symbolizes peace and serves as a guiding light name: "Patria" (Fatherland) lyrics/music: Fransisco Borja DA COSTA/Afonso DE ARAUJO note: adopted 2002; the song was first used as an anthem when Timor-Leste declared its independence from Portugal in 1975; the lyricist, Fransisco Borja DA COSTA,

 was killed in the Indonesian invasion just days after independence was declared Economy :: TIMOR-LESTE Economy - overview: Since gaining independence in 1999, Timor-Leste has faced great challenges in rebuilding its infrastructure, strengthening the civil administration, and generating jobs for young people entering the work force.

The development of offshore oil and gas reso In June 2005, the National Parliament unanimously approved the creation of the Timor-Leste Petroleum Fund to serve as a repository for all petroleum revenues and to preserve the value of Timor-Leste's petroleum wealth for future generations. The Fund held Annual government budget expenditures increased markedly between 2009 and 2012 but dropped significantly in 2013-16. Historically, the government failed to spend as much as its budget allowed.

The government has focused significant resources on basic infr country comparison to the world: 23 Transnational Issues :: TIMOR-LESTE Disputes - international: three stretches of land borders with Timor-Leste have yet to be delimited, two of which are in the Oecussi exclave area, and no maritime or Economic Exclusion Zone boundaries have been established between the countries; maritime boundaries with Indonesia remain unresolved; in 2007, Australia and Timor-Leste signed a 50-year development zone and revenue sharing agreement in lieu of a maritime boundary Trafficking in persons: current situation: Timor Leste is a source and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; Timorese women and girls from rural areas are lured to the capital with promises of legitimate jobs or education prospects and are then forced into prostitution or domestic servitude, and other women and girls may be sent to Indonesia for domestic servitude; Timorese family members force children into bonded domestic or agricultural labor to repay debts; foreign migrant women are vulnerable to sex trafficking in Timor Leste, while men and boys from Burma, Cambodia, and Thailand are forced to work on fishing boats in Timorese waters under inhum

ane conditions tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List – Timor Leste does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; in 2014, legislation was drafted but not finalized or implemented that outlines procedures for screening potential trafficking victims; law enforcement made modest progress, including one conviction for sex trafficking, but efforts are hindered by prosecutors’ and judges’ lack of expertise in applying anti-trafficking laws effectively; the government rescued two child victims with support from an NGO but did not provide protective services (2015) Road Map of East Timor - Ezilon Maps East Timor Map - Road Map of East Timor Zoom Map Description: Road map of East Timor with road routes from cities to towns, road intersections to provinces and perfectures.

East Timor Facts and Country Information... Situated in South-East Asia, East Timor is part of the eastern half of the island of Timor (the western half belongs to Indonesia) which is situated off the northern coast of Western Australia. Dili, the capital offers numerous examples of colonial architecture left by the Portuguese, notably the Portuguese castle (1627) and the State Museum of East Timor, exhibiting a collection of traditional art, musical instruments and paintings. Dili is undergoing major reconstruction works, for the city was badly hit during the fighting with Indonesia in 1999, although there are still many catholic churches standing as well as the famous large statue of Christ on the top of Cape Fatucama. On the island the official language is Tetum along with Portuguese, and English is often used in the administrative centers, however there are other 30 local dialects. The interior of East Timor is mountainous; while along the coastline there are plenty of beautiful beaches, such as Areia Branca, near Baucau where magnificent views and pristine sites can be admired.

Some good water activities can be found in Com, a picturesque fishing village where fishing and snorkeling are popular and lovely rooms can be found at the Com Beach Resort. For more historical sites a trip to Fatsuba and Maubara is worthwhile, with their garrisons and 17th century forts jutting out onto the sea. East Timor has a tropical monsoon climate and is very hot and dry from July to November, with the rainy season from December to March. It is cooler and more humid in the mountain region. World by Shotglass: East Timor (Timor Leste) The Country One of the youngest nations in the world, the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste occupies the eastern half of the island of Timor while Indonesia controls the other half. The islands of Kambing, Jaco and the enclave of Ambeno (located on the western half of the TimorIsland) are also part of the country. Once colonized by Portugal and later occupied by Indonesia shortly after it declared it independence from Portugal, East Timor would not regain its freedom until 1999 when Indonesia withdrew its forces from the territory with the United Nations acting as the overseer.

The struggle for independence that took decades by the East Timorese is often a source of inspiration for other areas clamoring for self-rule and independence from occupying forces. The largest city in the country is Dili and is also the capital and the principal port. The People Most of the Timorese reside in the capital city of Dili. The population also consists of numerous ethnic groups and these are the Tetum, Tukudede, Kemak, Maubara and Galoli. Other ethnic groups have mixed ancestry as they have Melanesian, Papuan and Polynesian blood. Those who have Portuguese and Timorese ancestors are referred to as mesticos. The current president of the republic, Jose Ramos-Horta is a mestico. Unlike the neighboring Indonesia, the predominant religion in East Timor is Christianity, with many of the citizens adhering to teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. However, like the neighboring Papua New Guinea, there are followers of the ancient traditional worship and spiritism. Apart from these groups, there are tiny populations of Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists. Portuguese and Tetum are spoken by many inhabitants of the country and these are the two official languages.

There are some other languages that belong to the indigenous tribes and some of these are Mambai, Kawaimina and Tukudede. A citizen, Bishop Carlos Ximenes Belo received the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize. Eating Just like I observed in Indonesia, the staple diet of the islanders is rice, and they will always garnish their rice-based meals with spices. In addition to rice, other meals are prepared from cassava, potatoes, corn and vegetables. You will also enjoy the variety of fruits in the country. If you want rich fruit salads, this is the ideal country for you. Owing partly to the country’s historical legacies, you will be able to enjoy Portuguese, Chinese and even Japanese meals. Dili has some of the finest restaurants and eateries in the region. Drinking East Timor is a place that has a lot to offer you when it comes to what to drink. From fruit juices to local beers made from tree sap, the island has it all. There are bars and restaurants in Dili and other major cities where you can get a bottle of imported wine or classy beers.

Coconut milk is also popular among the locals and as a tourist, you can always try this, you drink the juice directly from the fresh coconut! Sports in East Timor Although East Timor is a small nation, it has a vibrant sporting nature and the citizens of the country enjoy various games and physical activities. Major sports in the country include the following: Cycling Interesting Facts About East Timor The nation was once part of Indonesia. East Timor is one of the youngest nations in the world having gained full independence in 2002. A bishop from the country was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1996. Story By World By Shotglass Contact: info@worldbyshotglass.com Timor-Leste Send me a copy Subject: Email addresses provided here will be used solely to email the link indicated. They will not be saved, shared, or used again in any manner whatsoever.

The CAPTCHA code you entered is not valid, please reenter the CAPTCHA code Timor-Leste Official Name: Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste Last Updated: April 13, 2016 Embassy Messages One page required for entry stamp TOURIST VISA REQUIRED: Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(670) 723-1328 Fax: +(670) 331-3206 ConsDili@state.gov Destination Description Occupying 5,743 square miles on the eastern half of an island in the Timor Sea between Indonesia and Australia, Timor-Leste has a population of approximately 1.1 million people. Timor-Leste became independent on May 20, 2002, and is a democratically-governed, independent nation with an elected President and Parliament. Following successful presidential and parliamentary elections and a peaceful change of government in 2012, UN and Australian-led peacekeepers departed Timor- Leste. Decades of occupation and periodic eruptions of post-independence violence have left Timor-Leste with extremely poor infrastructure and limited economic opportunities.

Electricity, telephone and telecommunications, roads, and lodging remain unreliable, particularly outside of the capital. Timor-Leste's economy relies largely on revenues from offshore oil and gas production. Read the Department of State's Fact Sheet on U.S.-Timor-Leste relations. Entry, Exit & Visa Requirements You need a passport valid for six months beyond the date of arrival in Timor-Leste. Travelers arriving by air may obtain a 30-day tourist visa-on-arrival for a fee of 30 USD. If entering Timor-Leste by land, you will need a visa prior to entry as visas-on-arrival are no longer available at the land border with Indonesia. You must renew this visa and pay an additional fee if you plan to stay longer than 30-days. Please see the website of the Timor-Leste Immigration Department for additional information on visas and extensions. Visitors traveling via air must transit Singapore, Darwin in Australia or Bali in Indonesia en route to Timor-Leste. The U.S. Department of State is unaware of any HIV/AIDS entry restrictions for visitors to or foreign residents of Timor-Leste. Information about dual nationality or the prevention of international child abduction can be found on our website.

For further information about customs regulations, please read our Customs Information page . Safety and Security If you are in Timor-Leste, you should exercise caution, avoid large gatherings, remain alert with regard to your personal security, and avoid travel after dark to the extent possible. Exercise caution in public places, including, but not limited to, clubs, restaurants, bars, schools, places of worship, outdoor recreational events, hotels, resorts and beaches, and other locations frequented by foreigners. You should review U.S. Embassy security messages and maintain a high level of security awareness while moving around the country. You should be alert to the potential for violence, and avoid demonstrations, large political gatherings, and areas where disturbances have occurred. Demonstrations can occur at or near symbols and institutions of the Government of Timor-Leste, including government buildings, police stations, and houses belonging to prominent politicians. Even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence with little or no warning. Timor-Leste has experienced several episodes of violence since becoming independent in 2002. However, there have been no major country-wide civil disturbances since 2008, and international peacekeepers departed the country at the end of 2012.

Timorese security forces occasionally establish official security checkpoints along roads.. You may be expected to show your passport at these checkpoints. There also are occasional illegal checkpoints not operated by the police or military in uniforms, which you should avoid, but which, to date, have been primarily targeted at Timorese nationals. If you are traveling in Timor-Leste, you should remember that despite its small size, much of the territory is isolated and can be difficult to reach by available transportation or communication links. All U.S. citizens should ensure that passports and important personal papers are in order at all times in the event it becomes necessary to leave the country quickly . If your passport visa pages are nearly full, apply for a new passport before you travel. The U.S. Embassy in Dili is not able to issue emergency passports and has only limited capacity to process passport renewals. The U.S. Embassy Dili works with the U.S. Embassy Jakarta to issue emergency passports on a case by case basis. To stay connected: Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program so we can keep you up to date with important safety and security announcements. Follow the Bureau of Consular Affairs on Twitter and Facebook .

Bookmark the Bureau of Consular Affairs website , which contains the current Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts as well as the Worldwide Caution . Follow the U.S. Embassy in Timor-Leste by visiting the Embassy’s website and Facebook page In the event of an emergency, contact us at 1-888-407-4747 toll-free within the United States and Canada, or via a regular toll line, 1-202-501-4444, from other countries. Take some time before traveling to consider your personal security and check for useful tips for traveling safely abroad . CRIME: Crimes such as pick pocketing, purse snatching, residential and automobile break-ins, and theft occur throughout the country but are more frequent in the capital, Dili. These crimes often occur in recreational areas and facilities frequented by foreigners. Victims of crime who resist may face physical violence by perpetrators. There is occasional gang-related violence, which, at times, has affected foreign nationals. Stone-throwing attacks on vehicles occur during periods of gang conflicts and civil unrest and have resulted in serious injury and death in the past. You should avoid travel at night or alone in unfamiliar areas.

Women should avoid traveling or taking taxis alone, especially at night.. Women walking or exercising alone in Dili have reported harrassment and groping incidents. VICTIMS OF CRIME: If you or someone you know becomes the victim of a crime abroad, you should contact the local police and the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. We can: Help you replace a stolen passport. All U.S. passports are printed in the U.S., the passport application process may take 4 to 6 weeks. If you sitation requires you to travel sooner than 4 to 6 weeks, please call +670-332-4684. Help you find appropriate medical care if you are the victim of violent crimes such as assault or rape. Put you in contact with the appropriate police authorities, and if you want us to, contact family members or friends. Help you understand the local criminal justice process and direct you to local attorneys, although it is important to remember that local authorities are responsible for investigating and prosecuting the crime. The local equivalent of the “911” emergency line in Timor-Leste is 112, but the line is frequently busy or unattended.

Please see our information for victims of crime , including possible victim compensation programs in the United States. Local Laws & Special Circumstances CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While you are traveling in Timor-Leste, you are subject to its laws. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different from our own. Persons violating Timor-Leste’s laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Timor-Leste are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. In Timor-Leste, you may be taken in for questioning if you don’t have your passport with you. If you are suspected of criminal activity, the law provides that you may be incarcerated for up to one year pending the criminal investigation. Driving under the influence could land you immediately in jail. If you break local laws in Timor-Leste, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution. There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States.

You can be prosecuted in the United States for engaging in sexual conduct with children or for using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country regardless of the legality of these activities under that country’s laws. Counterfeit and pirated goods are illegal in the United States and if you purchase them in a foreign country, you may be breaking local law as well. Arrest notifications in host country: While some countries will automatically notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate if a U.S. citizen is detained or arrested in that country, others may not. To ensure that the United States is aware of your circumstances, request that the police and prison officials notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate as soon as you are arrested or detained overseas. SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: Scuba Diving Accidents: Timor-Leste’s diverse marine life and pristine reefs make scuba diving a popular pastime. However, there is no hyperbaric chamber in the country for the treatment decompression sickness – a serious medical condition associated with underwater diving. The closest hyperbaric chambers are in Darwin, Australia and Bali, Indonesia.

Medical services requiring a hyperbaric chamber can be very expensive and accessing those facilities would require appropriately pressurized air ambulance evacuation, therefore specialized scuba diving accident insurance is highly recommended. Options for scuba diving insurance include Divers Alert Network and Dive Assure . The closest hyperbaric chambers are located at: Royal Darwin Hospital Health Although limited emergency medical care is available in Dili, options for routine medical care throughout the rest of country are extremely limited. Serious medical problems require hospitalization and/or medical evacuation to Australia (the nearest point with acceptable medical care), Singapore, or the United States, and can cost thousands of dollars. Zika Virus: Zika virus is a mosquito-borne illness, typically transmitted by the day biting Aedes aegypti mosquito, that can be spread from a pregnant woman to her unborn baby as well as through sexual contact and blood transfusion. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has concluded that the Zika virus is a cause of microcephaly and other neurological conditions. For general information and the latest updates about Zika and steps to prevent mosquito bites and sexual exposure to the virus, please visit the CDC website . You can find detailed information on vaccinations and other health precautions on the CDC website .

For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad, consult the World Health Organization (WHO) website , which contains additional health information for travelers, including detailed country-specific health information . Travel & Transportation TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS: While in Timor-Leste, you may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. All traffic operates on the left side of the road, and most vehicles use right-hand drive. Roads are often poorly maintained, and four-wheel drive may be required in some areas. Sparse or non-existent lighting and poor road conditions make driving at night hazardous. Driving in Dili is especially hazardous, with large trucks and military vehicles sharing the streets with vendors, pedestrians, and livestock. Many cars and, especially, motorcycles operate at night without lights. Taxis, small buses, and mini-vans provide public transportation in Dili and elsewhere. However, public transportation is generally overcrowded, uncomfortable, and below international safety standards. Public transportation operators have been known to unexpectedly drop passengers at locations other than their destination due to the operators’ fears about certain areas or hours. Disagreement about fares has occasionally led to hostilities.

Public transport is generally inadvisable and is generally unavailable after dark, although taxis are occasionally available at select locations. During the rainy season from November to May, rain showers can severely damage cross-island roadways, making roads particularly risky. You should use caution when traveling on the cross-island roadways in the mountain areas of Aileu, Ermera, Manatuto, Ainaro, and Manufahi districts. Accidents occur frequently. When there is an accident, you should contact the police. Bystanders sometimes attack the driver perceived to be responsible for a traffic accident. T his is more common in rural areas and in accidents involving Timorese drivers, but crowds have occasionally attacked foreign drivers at the scene of an accident. If you are involved in an accident and believe that there is a threat of bodily harm from people at the scene of the accident, it is advisable to drive to the nearest police station before stopping. While vehicle insurance is required in Timor-Leste, compliance with this rule is limited and many drivers are uninsured. Most traffic accidents are settled informally between those involved. Please refer to our Road Safety page for more information.

AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT: As there is no direct commercial air service to the United States by carriers registered in Timor-Leste, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not assessed the government of Timor-Leste’s Civil Aviation Authority for compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards. Further information may be found on the FAA’s safety assessment page . East Timorese East Timorese East Timorese Terri McCormack A boy befriended a sick crocodile and carried it to the sea. In gratitude, the crocodile took the boy on many journeys across the sea. As it grew old and approached death, the crocodile said: 'I will change into a land where you and your descendants will live from my fruits, as payment for your kindness.' According to legend, the land was the island of Timor and the descendants were the Timorese. East Timor is the world's newest democracy and Australia's nearest neighbour. The first president of the independent nation in May 2002 was the former resistance leader Xanana Gusmâo who married Australian activist Kirsty Sword in 2000.

He became the country's fourth Prime Minister on 8 August 2007. Timor, meaning 'east' in Indonesian, is a narrow mountainous island at the south-eastern end of the Indonesian archipelago. Half the island was colonised by the Portuguese in the seventeenth century and remained so when the western, formerly Dutch, half joined the newly independent Indonesian republic in 1945. East Timor is now called Timor-Leste in Portuguese and Timor Loro Sa'e in Tetum, the two official languages. The East Timorese are culturally and linguistically distinct from Bahasa-speaking Indonesians in the western half of the island. Waves of refugees In 1975, Portugal withdrew from its neglected colony and, on 7 December, the Indonesian army invaded with devastating military force. Many East Timorese fled to Australia to escape a civil war and a violent and repressive Indonesian regime. Most refugees settled in Sydney, in government accommodation at Coogee, Cabramatta and later Villawood Hostel. Between 1976 and 1981, 2,447 arrived, of whom 1,940 were Timorese Chinese.

Many came under a specially implemented family reunion program. The Dili massacre of November 1991 created further internal unrest and another wave of 1,650 refugees fled to Australia between 1994 and 1996. In August 1999, after 25 years of clandestine resistance, the people of East Timor were offered a referendum on their future by the Indonesian president. When they voted overwhelmingly for independence, Indonesian-backed militia went on a violent rampage. A new influx of refugees arrived from September 1999 when the Australian government offered temporary refuge to almost 2,000 East Timorese evacuees, including 350 staff of the United Nations Mission in East Timor and some 1,500 people who had sheltered in the UN compound. In Sydney, evacuees were accommodated at the East Hills army barracks, formerly a safe haven for Kosovar refugees. Here they had access to health care, clothing and food, trauma counselling, education and English-language training. They received a small weekly allowance from the government but, with East Timor no longer annexed by Indonesia, they could not claim asylum status or apply for permanent residency.

At the 2001 census, there were an estimated 6,000 to 8,000 East Timorese in Sydney. Many of them are second-generation children who were born here. Their different ethnic affiliations reflect those in their homeland – 61 per cent were Chinese, 40 per cent Timorese, and 10 per cent Portuguese. Most recent arrivals speak Bahasa Indonesia, the only permitted language under Indonesian rule, and many are bilingual but do not speak English. Over the years, about half of Sydney's East Timorese community settled in the Liverpool/Fairfield area. These included diplomat and future Nobel Peace Prize winner José Ramos-Horta and his family. About one-quarter live in public housing in Botany and Randwick. Nearly all arrived under humanitarian and refugee programs and most have been here for over 10 years. With their impoverished rural background and uncertain future, these displaced and traumatised families face significant problems adjusting to urban Australian life, but many have built lives for themselves and achieved success while maintaining their cultural heritage. Those with legal status now return periodically to East Timor, while others have moved back permanently to help their nation rebuild.

Religion The Portuguese brought Catholicism to East Timor in the sixteenth century but a strong animist tradition survived until 1975. Approximately 95 per cent of the East Timorese in Sydney are Catholic and the church provides essential community support. Another organisation is the Mary MacKillop Institute East Timor, formerly the Mary MacKillop Institute for East Timorese Studies, founded by the Sisters of St Joseph in 1993. It runs literacy, teaching and health programs in Sydney and Dili. Community help The Timorese Australian Council was created in 1986. It helps East Timorese refugees and migrants to settle, promotes Timorese culture, and advocates for the East Timorese community. The Australia East Timor Association, formed in Sydney in 1992, claims to be the first and longest serving solidarity organisation for East Timor in Australia. Now located at Fairfield, the East Timorese Cultural Centre was founded in 1984 to promote the East Timor cause and culture. The centre passes on knowledge from the older generation to Timorese youth, provides basic teaching skills in Tetum, and teaches dance and English.

Timorese-Chinese The Chinese in Timor belong to the Hakka-speaking diaspora. The first Timorese-Chinese arrivals in 1975 were wealthy families from Dili who were housed in the Endeavour Migrant Hostel at Coogee. Later refugees went to the Cabramatta Migrant Hostel where they formed a cohesive community that is quite distinct from non-Chinese Timorese and from other Chinese communities. They founded the Timorese-Chinese Association, now located at Greenfield Park near Liverpool. It runs Chinese and Portuguese dance classes, Mandarin classes, sports activities, celebrates Chinese festivals, and organises annual gatherings of all Timorese-Chinese in Australia. Although many Timorese-Chinese worship at the Laotian Buddhist temple in Bonnyrigg and others have married Portuguese spouses, they retain their own sense of identity. Culture and heritage Leaving the Crocodile was an exhibition based on a Timorese creation legend held at several Sydney locations in 2007. It enabled the East Timorese to tell their stories of struggle, migration and exile. Other events in Sydney have reinforced Timorese pride in their culture.

For 12 months to May 2001, two East Timorese artists, Brigida de Andrada and Manuel Branco, conducted weekly art workshops for East Timorese youth at the East Timor drop-in centre in Fairfield. Since its closure, community meetings are held at the Casula Powerhouse museum. Singing, dancing and theatre performances are significant elements of East Timorese culture and identity. The distinctive tais or colourful woven cloths are an integral part of traditional dance dress and have become ritual objects in the prolonged East Timorese struggle for independence. East Timorese are keen sportspeople. Despite a lack of funding and basic necessities, four East Timorese competitors came to the Sydney Olympics in 2000 where they were supported by the Timor Australia Council and a sympathetic public.

References Australia Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, Annual Report, Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra, 1999–2000 Australia East Timor Association New South Wales, 'Newsletter No 1', April 2001, the association, Darlinghurst NSW, viewed 21 November 2008, ~wildwood/01apraeta.htm Back door, 'Newsletter on East Timor', Back Door, Kaleen ACT, viewed 21 November 2008, ~wildwood/ Leaving the Crocodile: The Story of the East Timorese Community in Sydney, Liverpool Regional Museum, Casula NSW, 2001 Parish Patience Immigration Lawyers, Australian Immigration Law Update Newsletter, no 14, October 1999 Timorese Australian Council, Settlement of the East Timorese Community in New South Wales, Ettinger House, Sydney, 1994 Amanda Wise, 'Embodying Exile: trauma and collective identities among East Timorese refugees in Australia', in Social Analysis, vol 43 no 3, fall 2004, pp 24–39, viewed 21 November 2008

, Amanda Wise, Exile and Return Among the East Timorese, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 2006 Timor-Leste Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs Fact Sheet October 27, 2015 More information about Timor-Leste is available on the Timor-Leste Country Page and from other Department of State publications and other sources listed at the end of this fact sheet.

U.S.-TIMOR-LESTE RELATIONS Timor-Leste became an independent nation in 2002, following over four hundred years of Portuguese colonization, twenty-four years of Indonesian occupation, and three years of United Nations transitional administration. The country faces the challenge of building a strong democracy and vibrant economy against a background of still-fragile institutions and limited human capital. The United States and Timor-Leste enjoy excellent bilateral relations based on shared interests and values, and the United States is committed to strengthening and deepening this partnership. U.S. Assistance to Timor-Leste The United States has a large bilateral development assistance program and is also a major donor member to a number of multilateral agencies active in Timor-Leste such as the United Nations, Asian Development Bank, and World Bank. U.S. assistance focuses on bolstering stability by strengthening the foundations of good governance, accelerating economic growth thus creating jobs for the rapidly growing population, improving the health of the Timorese people, and supporting the professionalization of the Timorese security forces. Bilateral Economic Relations Timor-Leste is one of the least developed countries in the world and there is little direct trade with the United States.

The economy is dependent on government spending (financed by petroleum revenues) and, to a lesser extent, assistance from international donors including the United States. Private sector development has lagged due to human capital shortages, infrastructure weakness, an incomplete legal system, and an inefficient regulatory environment. The U.S. Overseas Private Investment Corporation and the Government of Timor-Leste have signed an Investment Incentive Agreement. The major U.S. investor in Timor-Leste is ConocoPhillips; its Bayu-Undan gas condensate development is located in the Timor Sea joint petroleum development area between Timor-Leste and Australia. The second largest export is coffee, which generates about $16 million a year. Starbucks Coffee Company is a major purchaser of Timorese coffee. Timor-Leste's Membership in International Organizations Timor-Leste's foreign policy places high priority on its relationships with Indonesia, Australia, other neighbors, and friendly countries and donors, most notably the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) and member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Timor-Leste began its two year presidency of the CPLP in 2014 by prioritizing economic integration between member states, as well as joint exploration and production of oil and gas. One of its top foreign policy objectives is to join ASEAN. Timor-Leste applied for ASEAN membership in 2011, but an ASEAN decision to admit the nation is still pending. Timor-Leste and the United States belong to many of the same international organizations, including the United Nations, ASEAN Regional Forum, Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering, International Monetary Fund, and World Bank. Bilateral Representation The U.S. is represented in country by Ambassador Karen Stanton ; other principal embassy officials are listed in the Department's Key Officers List. Timor-Leste maintains an embassy in the United States at 4201 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008 (telephone: 202-966-3202). More information about Timor-Leste is available from the Department of State and other sources, some of which are listed here:

Question: Half the island of Timor belongs to East Timor. Which country owns the other half?
Answer: INDONESIA