§ Mr. WrayTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the visit of President Xanana Gusmao of East Timor to the UK; and what issues were discussed. [136199]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe Government were delighted to welcome President Xanana Gusmao to the UK on a guest of Government visit. President Xanana Gusmao has played a pivotal role, not only in his country's struggle for independence, but also in promoting post-conflict reconciliation and a better future for his people. The President had an audience with HM The Queen, and meetings with my right hon. Friends the Foreign Secretary, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Mr. Paul Murphy) and Minister of State at the Ministry of Defence (Mr. Ingram), and my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for International Development (Mr. Gareth Thomas). I also had a meeting with President Gusmao during which he expressed his gratitude for the UK's assistance to East Timor since 1999 and asked that the UK continue to remain engaged in assisting East Timor. The President also visited Northern Ireland to learn about reconciliation efforts there.