José Ramos-Horta, who spoke impromptu and "from the heart" during a solemn session in parliament, as part of his state visit to Angola, expressed himself honored by the extraordinary plenary session in his honor.
"It is an honor to be here in this room of democracy next to the bust of the founder of Angola, doctor, poet and writer Agostinho Neto, in front of him, the memory of Agostinho and of so many Angolan heroes who fell for this country, bowed with respect and also with gratitude", said Ramos-Horta.
The Timorese President said that relations between Angola and his country date back to the period of the proclamation of Angola's independence, on November 11, 1975, when, he recalled, a small delegation from Timor-Leste was in Angola.
Angola, along with the Portuguese-speaking African Countries (PALOP), as well as Portugal and Brazil, have always been together with Timor-Leste throughout the 24 years of struggle for independence, he highlighted.
José Ramos-Horta highlighted, in his speech before the plenary of the National Assembly, the 22 years of restoration of Timor-Leste's independence, after the detachment from Indonesia, remembering that such a step "would not be carried out without international solidarity".
"It would not have happened without the commitment of countries like Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, Mozambique, São Tomé and Príncipe, Portugal and Brazil, we would not have achieved it without the inspiration of Agostinho Neto and so many other Angolan leaders and also from other countries of Portuguese language", he noted.
Today Timor-Leste "is free, lives in peace, and following the restoration of independence we chose to heal wounds, reconcile society, reconcile the country, normalize relations with our neighbor Indonesia", he said.
The Timorese statesman praised Angola's political courage and seriousness, stating that the country "is a great example" of how to overcome bloody periods in history, reconcile the nation, heal wounds, rebuild and develop the country.
"Timor-Leste is (also) one of those examples, we do not look back, we honor the dead, we heal the wounds, and we refuse justice to the victors. Today Timor-Leste lives in peace, in full democracy (...)", he said.
He considered, however, "unacceptable" the high levels of extreme poverty, infant mortality and malnutrition that persist in Timor-Leste, admitting that the country still has a long way to go, having pointed out food self-sufficiency as one of the challenges of the current executive.
Carolina Cerqueira, president of parliament, thanked, in turn, the "sincere and soulful" words that José Ramos-Horta expressed about Angola.
