MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Gallus
The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon Chris
Gallus, will launch three new Australian aid activities during an official visit
to East Timor this week.
Mrs Gallus will also sign a MOU with the East Timorese Prime Minister, Dr
Mari Bin Hamud Alkatiri, during her four-day visit to urban and regional East
Timor.
The Memorandum of Understanding on Technical Cooperation is a
framework for the development of cooperation between Australian and East
Timor.
East Timor achieved independence on 20 May 2002 after travelling a long road
from the autonomy ballot in August 1999. Australia played a key role in East
Timor's transition to independence.
Mrs Gallus said the agreement would streamline arrangements for the delivery
of Australian aid for East Timor aimed at reducing poverty and to help rebuild
the country as a new democratic nation.
'Poverty reduction is our priority in East Timor' Mrs Gallus said.
'More than 40 per cent of East Timorese live in poverty and 80 per cent of
those live in rural areas.'
The new programs to be launched by Mrs Gallus focus on areas of high need in
East Timor. They include a water supply program, a financial management project
and a program to increase skills in the East Timor public service.
Australia provided $81 million to meet East Timor's humanitarian and
development needs in 1999/2000 and in May 2000 committed to an assistance
package of $150 million over four years for reconstruction and development.
Estimated total aid flows for 2002/03 are $36 million.
Contact:
Alex Knox (Office of Mrs Gallus) 02 6277 4840 or 0411 287 257
Jo Elsom (AusAID) 02 6206 4960 or 0412 804 489