[ENG-TET]
PRESS RELEASE
PRESIDENT J. RAMOS-HORTA RECEIVES LETTER FROM UNITED KINGDOM PRIME MINISTER ANDY BURNHAM FOLLOWING PRESIDENT CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE ON HIS APPOINTMENT
DILI, 28 August 2026
President of the Republic and Nobel Peace Laureate, J. Ramos-Horta has received a letter from the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Rt Hon. Andy Burnham MP, in reply to the President’s earlier congratulatory message on Mr. Burnham’s appointment as Prime-Minister of United Kingdom.
The exchange of correspondence highlights the enduring friendship and shared commitment to democratic values between Timor-Leste and the United Kingdom.
In his initial letter, dated 21 July 2026, President Ramos-Horta extended his sincere congratulations to Prime Minister Burnham, stated:
“I wish to extend to Your Excellency my sincere congratulations on your appointment to the high office of Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. The assumption of this important responsibility represents a significant moment in the political life of the United Kingdom and demonstrates the confidence placed in Your Excellency to lead His Majesty’s Government and serve the British people. I extend my best wishes for Your Excellency’s success in guiding the United Kingdom towards a future of prosperity, stability, and progress, while promoting democratic values, social justice, and sustainable development.”
“Timor-Leste and the United Kingdom share a relationship of friendship and mutual respect, founded upon common values of democracy, peace, human rights, the rule of law, and international cooperation. We particularly appreciate the United Kingdom’s contribution to the promotion of international peace and security, as well as its commitment to multilateralism and addressing global challenges. In this context, I reaffirm my commitment to continuing to strengthen the bonds of friendship and cooperation between Timor-Leste and the United Kingdom, including through the further development of ties with the Timorese community residing in the United Kingdom, whose integration into British society constitutes an important bridge of friendship and understanding between our peoples. In wishing Your Excellency every success in fulfilling the high mission entrusted to you, I take this opportunity to renew my wishes for your good health, personal happiness, and prosperity for the friendly people of the United Kingdom.”
In his reply, dated 18 August 2026, Prime Minister Burnham expressed his gratitude and outlined a shared vision for future cooperation, acknowledging Timor-Leste’s growing role on the international stage:
“Dear President, Thank you for your kind letter of congratulations on my appointment as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. It is an honour to serve in this role, and I look forward to working with you to strengthen the friendship between the United Kingdom and Timor-Leste. Our two countries share a commitment to democracy, peace, human rights, and the rule of law, and your personal leadership on these issues remains a source of inspiration. At a time of increasing global instability, it is more important than ever that countries committed to these values work together to find collective solutions to shared challenges.
The United Kingdom looks forward to deepening cooperation with Timor-Leste, including as you prepare for your ASEAN Chairmanship in 2029. We also value Timor-Leste’s strong voice in international climate negotiations and your principled stance in other UN fora, including on issues of self-determination. I welcome our bilateral cooperation in areas such as health security and the valuable contribution of the Timorese community in the United Kingdom as a bridge between our societies. With best wishes, Andy Burnham.”
Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to expanding bilateral cooperation, multilateral diplomacy and reinforcing the longstanding friendship between Timor-Leste and the United Kingdom.
END
KOMUNIKADU IMPRENSA
PREZIDENTE J. RAMOS-HORTA SIMU KARTA HUSI PRIMEIRU-MINISTRU REINU UNIDU ANDY BURNHAM HAFOIN PREZIDENTE NIA MENSAJEN FELISITASAUN BA NIA NOMEASAUN
DILI, 28 Agostu 2026
Prezidente Repúblika no Laureadu Nobel ba Pás, J. Ramos-Horta simu ona karta husi Primeiru Ministru Reinu Unidu nian, Rt Hon. Andy Burnham MP, nu’udar resposta ba Prezidente nia mensajen felisitasaun haruka anteriormente ba nomeasaun Sr. Burnham nu’udar Primeiru-Ministru Reinu Unidu nian.
Troka korespondénsia ida-ne’e destaka amizade duradoura no kompromisu hamutuk ba valór demokrátiku sira entre Timor-Leste no Reinu Unidu.
Iha ninia karta inísiu, ho data 21 Jullu 2026, Prezidente Ramos-Horta hato’o nia felisitasaun sinseru ba Primeiru-Ministru Burnham, hateten:
“Ha’u hakarak hato’o ba Sua Exelénsia ha’u-nia felisitasaun sinseru ba Ita-nia nomeasaun ba kargu ba Primeiru-Ministru Reinu Unidu nian. Nomeasaun ba responsabilidade importante ida-ne’e reprezenta momentu signifikativu ida iha vida polítika Reinu Unidu nian no hatudu konfiansa ne’ebé tau iha Sua Exelénsia atu lidera Governu Sua Majestade no serbí povu Britániku sira. Ha’u hato’o ha’u-nia dezeju susesu ba Sua Exelénsia hodi orienta Reinu Unidu ba futuru ida ho prosperidade, estabilidade, no progresu, enkuantu promove valór demokrátiku, justisa sosiál, no dezenvolvimentu sustentável.”
“Timor-Leste no Reinu Unidu partilla relasaun amizade no respeitu ba malu, ne’ebé harii iha valór komún sira kona-ba demokrasia, pás, direitus umanus, estadu direitu, no kooperasaun internasionál. Ami partikularmente apresia Reinu Unidu nia kontribuisaun ba promosaun pás no seguransa internasionál, no mós ninia kompromisu ba multilateralizmu no rezolve dezafiu globál sira. Iha kontestu ida-ne’e, ha’u reafirma ha’u-nia kompromisu atu kontinua hametin lasu amizade no kooperasaun entre Timor-Leste no Reinu Unidu, inklui liuhusi aprofundamentu lasu ho komunidade Timor-oan ne’ebé hela iha Reinu Unidu, ne’ebé ninia integrasaun iha sosiedade Britániku konstitui ponte importante ida ba amizade no kompriensaun entre ita-nia povu. Hodi dezeja Sua Exelénsia susesu tomak iha kumprimentu misaun aas ne’ebé fó ba Ita, ha’u aproveita oportunidade ida-ne’e atu renova ha’u nia dezeju sira ba Ita-nia saúde di’ak, ksolok pesoál, no prosperidade ba povu belun Reinu Unidu.”
Iha ninia resposta, ho data 18 Agostu 2026, Primeiru-Ministru Burnham hato’o nia agradesimentu no partilla vizaun komún ba kooperasaun iha futuru, hodi rekoñese Timor-Leste nia papél ne’ebé aumenta iha palku internasionál:
“Caro Prezidente, Obrigadu ba Ita-nia karta parabéns ba ha’u-nia nomeasaun nu’udar Primeiru-Ministru Reinu Unidu nian. Ida-ne’e hanesan onra ida atu serbí iha knaar ida-ne’e, no ha’u hein atu serbisu hamutuk ho Ita-Boot hodi hametin amizade entre Reinu Unidu no Timor-Leste. Ita-nia nasaun rua partilla kompromisu ida ba demokrasia, pás, direitus umanus no estadu direitu, no Ita-nia lideransa pesoál kona-ba asuntu sira-ne’e kontinua sai inspirasaun ba ami. Iha tempu instabilidade globál ne’ebé aumenta, importante liu duké nunka katak nasaun sira ne’ebé kompromete ba valór sira-ne’e serbisu hamutuk hodi hetan solusaun koletiva sira ba dezafiu sira ne’ebé komún.”
“Reinu Unidu hein atu aprofunda kooperasaun ho Timor-Leste, inklui bainhira imi prepara ba imi-nia Prezidénsia ASEAN iha tinan 2029. Ami mós valoriza Timor-Leste nia lian forte iha negosiasaun klimátika internasionál no imi-nia pozisaun prinsípiu iha forum sira seluk ONU nian, inklui kestaun kona-ba autodeterminasaun. Ha’u simu ita-nia kooperasaun bilaterál iha área sira hanesan seguransa saúde no kontribuisaun valiozu husi komunidade Timor-oan iha Reinu Unidu nu’udar ponte entre ita-nia sosiedade sira. Ho mellores kumprimentus, Andy Burnham.”
Líder rua ne’e reafirma sira-nia kompromisu atu habelar kooperasaun bilaterál, diplomasia multilaterál no reforsa amizade kleur entre Timor-Leste no Reinu Unidu.
REMATA//