Norway condemns attack on Ramos-Horta

“The news of the attacks on East Timor’s President José Ramos-Horta and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao is very serious”, Norway’s Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg says.

”These are attacks against East Timor as such and against democracy in this young state. Norway strongly condemns these attacks and we express our solidarity with East Timor and its authorities”, Mr. Stoltenberg says.

Prime Minister Stoltenberg says relations between Norway and the people of East Timor are close and long-standing. Relations were further strengthened by the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Ramos-Horta and Bishop Carlos Belo in 1996.

”I will now write to President Ramos-Horta to assure him that Norway’s cooperation and support remains unchanged. My thoughts are with President Ramos-Horta, and I strongly wish that he will recover and quickly will be able to resume his vital role as East Timor’s leader”, Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg says.