“IN VICTORY BE MAGNANIMOUS, NEVER SEEK TO HUMILIATE THE ADVERSARY; IF HE IS ON HIS KNEES HOLD HIS HANDS, PLEAD WITH HIM TO RISE UP. WALK HALFWAY AND MEET THE VANQUISHED ONES; EMBRACE THEM, INVITE THEM TO JOIN IN A NEW ENTERPRISE OF PEACE, A NEW FUTURE FOR ALL. THIS HAS BEEN MY BELIEF AND IN MANY WAYS THIS HAS BEEN OUR PRACTICE SINCE INDEPENDENCE.”
JOSÉ RAMOS-HORTA
On 21 April, 2022, in a landslide election victory, Dr. José Ramos-Horta was elected President of Timor-Leste for a second term. He had previously served as Senior Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs (2002 – 2006), Prime Minister (2006 – 2007), and President (2007-2012). Dr. Ramos-Horta was sworn into office on May 19 and assumed office on 20 May, 2022, the 20th anniversary of Timor-Leste’s restoration of independence.
A founding father of the first new democracy of the millennium.
In exile for 24 years, he was the lone voice of his people, the people of Timor-Leste (East Timor) as they suffered one of the most brutal occupations of the last century. After leading his country to independence, he served as the President of the century’s newest democracy.
Features:
Op Ed: For a fraction of Australia’s fighter jet budget, I’d leave East Timor’s fuel in the ground
by José Ramos-Horta, President, East Timor Read on The Age At the recent UN General Assembly, the president of Vanuatu called on governments to negotiate a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, a proposal I have supported alongside 100 other Nobel Prize...
Lowy Institute: A free trade zone for Timor-Leste and Indonesia
Regional stability, economic resilience and mutual prosperity – what’s not to like about a cross-border FTZ? In July, Indonesian President Joko Widodo received President José Ramos-Horta for the first state visit of the Timor-Leste leader’s term. Both made proposals...
Resource Rich, Poor Countries And Responsibilities of Rich Industrial Countries
Text of Speech By President J. Ramos-Horta of Timor-Leste at g7+ forum Held on 23rd September 2022, In New York On the sidelines of 77th Session of United Nations General Assembly, 25 September 2022 A Just Energy Transition is a Global Peace Program....
President José Ramos-Horta Speech at UN General Assembly 2022
WATCH ON FACEBOOK Speech by H.E. President José Ramos-Horta of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste at the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly 23rd September 2022 Mr. President, Sr....
News: Articles, Speeches, Videos
Op Ed: For a fraction of Australia’s fighter jet budget, I’d leave East Timor’s fuel in the ground
by José Ramos-Horta, President, East Timor Read on The Age At the recent UN General Assembly, the president of Vanuatu called on governments to negotiate a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, a proposal I have supported alongside 100 other Nobel Prize...
Lowy Institute: A free trade zone for Timor-Leste and Indonesia
Regional stability, economic resilience and mutual prosperity – what’s not to like about a cross-border FTZ? In July, Indonesian President Joko Widodo received President José Ramos-Horta for the first state visit of the Timor-Leste leader’s term. Both made proposals...
Resource Rich, Poor Countries And Responsibilities of Rich Industrial Countries
Text of Speech By President J. Ramos-Horta of Timor-Leste at g7+ forum Held on 23rd September 2022, In New York On the sidelines of 77th Session of United Nations General Assembly, 25 September 2022 A Just Energy Transition is a Global Peace Program....
President José Ramos-Horta Speech at UN General Assembly 2022
WATCH ON FACEBOOK Speech by H.E. President José Ramos-Horta of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste at the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly 23rd September 2022 Mr. President, Sr....
Reuters: East Timor prods Australia on long-stalled gas project
MELBOURNE, Sept 7 (Reuters) - Indonesia, South Korea, Japan and China could all be interested in investing in a long-delayed gas project in the waters between East Timor and Australia crucial to the Asian nation's future, East Timor President Jose Ramos-Horta said on...
Ramos-Horta: The First 100 Days and Our Future Challenges
Read/download PDF Watch on YouTube (in Portuguese) THE FIRST 100 DAYS AND OUR FUTURE CHALLENGES Address to The National Parliament by J. Ramos-Horta, President of the Republic, 15 September 2022 Excellencies, Mr President of the National Parliament, Mr....
Woodside gas deal would turn Dili into Dubai: Ramos-Horta
East Timor could become the next Dubai or Singapore if Australian resources giant Woodside agreed to pipe gas there instead of Darwin for processing, the island nation’s President Jose Ramos-Horta said as he steps up pressure on Anthony Albanese to support...
Australia and Timor-Leste Update Defence Ties
Australia and Timor-Leste today signed a reciprocal Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA). The DCA is a status of forces agreement that sets out the reciprocal protections, responsibilities and privileges each country will grant the military personnel of the other in...
Ramos-Horta on Timor-Leste using fossil fuels – ‘Please don’t lecture me’
The president of Timor-Leste, José Ramos-Horta, has hit back at a question over the negative climate outcomes of the Greater Sunrise gas project. He said the US, Europeans and Australia 'were the ones who polluted the whole world with coal, with oil and everything...
IN FULL: President of Timor-Leste Jose Ramos Horta discusses tensions over gas project
The President of Timor Leste Jose Ramos Horta speaks to the National Press Club. Jose Ramos Horta is a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, and is one of the most respected politicians in the history of Timor-Leste. WATCH VIDEO
China ‘very interested’ in partnering with Timor-Leste on gas project, President José Ramos-Horta says
Mr Ramos-Horta said he'd had informal discussions with Chinese officials about their potential involvement in the project over the last two or three years. "They are very interested and they even told me they are very interested even to be the sole partners," he...
Harvard International Review. Democracy and Development in Timor-Leste: Interview with President José Ramos-Horta
A thoughtful interview by Pranay Varada of the Harvard International Review, covering the history of the struggle for independence, the relevance on ASEAN, the strength of the Nobel Peace Prize, and the lessons Timor-Leste offers the world. Read article
IMAGES OF TIMOR-LESTE
Timor-Leste in
pictures
See his home through his eyes; the island that was once the scene of mass executions, torture centers and atrocities, enjoying the dividends of peace today.
INTERNATIONAL PEACE BUILDING
Taking peace building to the world.
Through high level missions for the UN Secretary General and other international peace building and diplomatic efforts, Ramos-Horta shares the wisdom of experience to make a better world.