Statement by Deputy PM at Climate Change conference in Bali

May I join the previous speakers in expressing our condolences to the families of those that died in the recent bombing in Algeria.

It is our great honor to be here representing the government and the people of Timor-Leste in this important Conference of Parties for the UNFCCC.

We also to express our deepest appreciation to the Government and the people of the Republic of Indonesia for hosting this important international conference.

May I also extend our congratulations to IPCC and to former US Vice President, H.E. Albert Gore for re4ceiving this year's Nobel Peace Award. Their outstanding contribution is invaluable for today's and future generations.

As a young country struggling with the multiple challenges of nation building, Timor-Leste presently faces itself with high vulnerability to the adverse effects of climate change, particularly drought and floods which severely impact our people's lives and livelihoods, dependent on rainfall for irrigation and growing crops for food.

Drought already causes substantial malnutrition and poverty in Timor-Leste. Flooding in the eastern and western parts of Timor-Leste has been the most recent indicator of climate change impacts at our national level.

Emission reduction by developed countries is critical. We welcome the commitments of the European Union and other Annex I Parties aiming at reducing their emissions as far as 30% by 2020.

As a recent party to the UNFCCC, we share this spirit of participating in global environmental responsibilities and in contributing to the well being of all communities in our planet. Timor-Leste is in the process of ratifying the Kyoto Protocol in our National Parliament. This is a substantial step to align our effort with the global effort. In this regard, we would like to congratulate the government of Australia and Prime Minister Kevin Rudd for ratifying the Kyoto Protocol.

We are ready to work with the international community in all aspects of information sharing, capacity building, policy development, and in concrete projects in order to achieve our common goals.

We look forward to the continuation of the work produced in this COP 13 and hope for success in the very important negotiations that will continue in the near future.

However, and although the effects of climate change will be felt at a global scale, a disproportionate burden still falls on the least developed, SIDS and most vulnerable countries in the developing world.

To strengthen the financial and technical support for capacity building, adaptation and transfer of technology, is to guarantee the fulfillment of our country obligations under the Convention, to adapt properly and proportionally to the speed and the scale of climatic change, based on our country's vulnerability.

Our National Adaptation Plan of Action (NAPA) and Initial National Communication, planned to begin in 2008, will be the starting point to achieve this goal. The simplification of the tools and methodologies for accessing financial resources from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) are fundamental to us. We wish to invest them in areas such as renewable energy and reforestation, for climate change adaptation and poverty reduction.

We welcome other actions such as the Reduction of Emissions from Deforestation, the Coral Triangle Initiative as well as the new World Bank initiative to provide incentives to developing countries that protect their forests.

The Government of Timor-Leste, under the leadership of Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão, is aware that we are also citizens of this world and we must implement the convention requirements.

Let us all, do this work together, developed and developing countries, to bring back to our countries not only the beauty and the culture of Bali-Indonesia but also a wise Road Map for Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation.

This COP is crucial for us to find common solutions to thjs global threat. It is our hope and dream that all Governments, businesses, civil society and all people of the world continue to share our earth's hospitality, equally and responsibly, for generations to come.

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