Embassy Highlights
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President Jose Ramos-Horta visits USAID-supported greenhouse in Lequitura
February 7, 2009
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| President Ramos-Horta (right), Ambassador Klemm (center), and USAID Mark White (left) |
“I am amazed to visit this site today and find that Timorese farmers are already using state- of-the-art technology,”—President Jose Ramos-Horta
Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta visited the USAID-supported Lequitura Special Horticultural Area in Aileu on February 7, 2009 and, together with U.S. Ambassador Hans G. Klemm and USAID Representative Mark A. White, held a dialogue with the community afterwards.
“I would like to thank Ambassador Klemm and USAID for introducing this project to Timor-Leste. I just visited a project like this in Malaysia, but I never dreamed that this technology was already being used by Timorese farmers. So I am amazed to visit this site today and find that Timorese farmers are using state-of-the-art technology," President Ramos-Horta said, following his tour of the greenhouse.
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Latest Headlines From the Embassy |
USS Lassen visits Timor-Leste
January 30, 2009
The USS Lassen arrived in Dili January 26 as a scheduled port visit and engaged in goodwill activities with the people of Timor-Leste. Community relations projects included renovation work at a local school, a visit to an orphanage and hospital and Project Handclasp donations to the Caritas charitable organization. Ambassador Hans Klemm was joined by Cmdr. Anthony Simmons and sailors from the USS Lassen at the Comoro Intermediate School in Dili, Timor-Leste. The Lassen crew worked to repair and paint buildings on the school grounds and made time to interact with students and staff.
U.S. Ambassador celebrates first harvest of USAID sponsored Project in Aileu
December 19, 2008
On December 19, 2008, Ambassador Hans Klemm and Mrs. Klemm visited the USAID-funded Dezenvolve Setòr Privado (DSP) project in Lequitura in the district of Aileu to celebrate the first harvest of horticultural products grown in the USAID-supported Special Horticulture Area. The area includes a 1000 m2 greenhouse, seven 80 m2 “tunnels,” three 120 m2 netting houses, and outdoor growing areas. The greenhouse itself was built under USAID’s Small Grants Program (SGP) in early 2008 to complement the ongoing technical assistance being provided under the DSP program. During remarks to the audience and to the media, the Ambassador underscored the United States' commitment to support Timor-Leste's rural and agricultural sectors. To ensure maximum quality and productivity, DSP employs two full-time field technicians who provide technical expertise and training on how to best to operate the greenhouse and other growing facilities. Field technicians also help farmers develop a planting schedule to ensure a continuous supply of quality products, help them to manage new technologies, and assist with post-harvest handling. The farmers in Lequitura form the base of a supply chain that reaches Dili-based wholesale and retail consumers through trading company, Zero Star. Currently, Zero Star and Lequitura farmers supply Dili-based restaurants, supermarkets, and over 50 households with quality horticultural products on a weekly basis. The Ambassador's visit received wide media coverage in Timor-Leste.
Public Diplomacy Officer Delivers Sports Equipment in Fatulia
December 3, 2008
Political/Public Diplomacy Officer Roberto Quiroz traveled to the eastern district of Baucau from December 3-4 to meet with local residents, Catholic Church, and National Police of Timor-Leste officials. In addition, Mr. Quiroz donated 20 soccer, volleyballs, and basketballs to Fatulia Suco Chief Constancio Rego on December 3 for use by local youth, and 20 balls to Dom Bosco's Academy director Father Justiniano de Sousa for use by his students. The sports equipment was purchased with funds provided to Embassy Dili by EAP/PD. Suco Chief Constancio Rego and community residents welcomed Mr. Quiroz with a reception where they thanked the U.S. for its support of Timor-Leste. Mr. Rego offered special praise for the humanitarian assistance provided to his community in April 2008 by a contingent of engineers from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), based in Okinawa, Japan. (more)
U.S. Pacific Fleet and Marine Forces Pacific Teams Visit Timor-Leste
November 16-22, 2008
 A team from the U.S. Pacific Fleet (PACFLT) and U.S. Marine Forces Pacific (MARFORPAC) visited Timor-Leste from November 16-22, 2008 to assess opportunities for maritime security and development assistance to Timor-Leste's Defense Forces (F-FDTL). Mr. Tak Yamamoto led the PACFLT team, and Colonel Grant Newsham led the MARFORPAC team. During their visit, the teams met with officials from the Office of the President, Deputy Prime Minister Jose Luis Guterres, members of the National Parliament, Secretary of State for Defense Julio Tomas Pinto, Secretary of State for Security Francisco Guterres, F-FDTL Commander Brigadier General Taur Matan Ruak, National Police of Timor-Leste (PNTL) Interim Commander Afonso de Jesus, and officials from the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Infrastructure, Education, and Health. In addition, the teams engaged in broad interaction with the Australian-led International Stabilization Force (ISF), and diplomatic missions from Australia, New Zealand, Portugal, Japan, and the European Union. During a breakfast reception on November 20, Ambassador Hans Klemm hailed their visit as an example of Embassy Dili's partnership with the U.S. Pacific Command to strengthen U.S. military assistance in Timor-Leste.
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