Thank you Mr. President. Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. It is a great honour for me to visit Timor-Leste in my capacity as Secretary-General. I understand this is the second visit of a UN Secretary-General, and Mr. President, thank you very much for your very warm and kind welcome.

I am very much touched by such a warm welcome of your government and your people, and I am here to reaffirm the UN's strong support, as well as the international community's support in general, for the efforts of Timor-Leste's government to ensure peace and stability, socio-economic development and good governance and institution building. These are major priorities of the United Nations.

I have seen with my eyes already, within a very limited time, that while going through a transition to democracy, Timor-Leste is facing great challenges. At the same time, you have achieved a great deal through a peaceful parliamentary election and two rounds of presidential elections, and a high turnout of voters. That's a good sign of democracy, with the strong support of the United Nations and your leadership and the active participation of the people of Timor-Leste. We hope that Timor-Leste will enjoy genuine democracy, socio-economic development, good governance and institution building, and the rule of law.

I know that you have to go through security sector reform, judiciary reform and unemployment issues. All those are challenges which I understand the United Nations and the international community will fully be standing behind you, through a compact which will be held in January next year.

When I meet the Prime Minister, I will have another opportunity and this evening, I hope I will be able to have an opportunity of engaging in Q and A sessions.

Thank you very much.