President Taur Matan Ruak highlighted in his speech on the occasion of the 12th anniversary of the independence of his country that East Timor which "celebrates the occasion of the anniversary of the restoration of independence and the triumph of international law on the territory of East Timor, can not but recall other peoples which are still deprived of exercising their right to self-determination, we recall in this regard the peoples of Western Sahara and Palestine. "
He added "In the name of the people of East Timor, I would like to express to the Saharawi and Palestinian peoples our complete solidarity with their rights to self-determination and to choose their future in a democratic way in line with the United Nations Charter and international law which recognize their rights, and that continuing to postpone enabling the two peoples to exercise their legitimate right to of self-determination would weaken the international system and affects the credibility of the values that underlie this system. " (SPS)
