APR and Australia visit Scouts in Timor Leste
Dili, Timor-Leste, 21 December 2016 – A high-level team from the APR Asia Pacific Region (APR) of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) comprised of Regional Chairman Paul Parkinson, Regional Director Jose Rizal Pangilinan and Chief Commissioner of Australia Chris Bates.
This bilateral meeting of top leaders both from Uniao Nacional dos Escuteiros de Timor-Leste (UNE-TL) and the APR team was to verify the preparations of UNE-TL in its application for WOSM membership. National Commissioners directly involved in the preparation joined the meeting held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dili.
On the first day meeting, the National Council led by the UNE-TL President Ms Idelta Maria Rodrigues went through the checklist of key areas such as constitution, organization structure, government recognition, membership, and infrastructure.
A meeting with Nobel Peace Prize winner and former President of Timor-Leste and Patron of UNE-TL, Dr. Jose Ramos-Horta, was arranged at his residence in Dili. Dr. Jose Ramos-Horta gave assurance to encourage government leaders, both present and future, to support the application of UNE-TL to WOSM.
“It is important that our colleagues in APR chaired by Mr. Paul Parkinson made this visit to UNE-TL to discuss and verify the membership requirements. We are also grateful for their support in the initial stages. We know that the chance to become WOSM member is high which now depends on UNE-TL leaders to prepare and anticipate the preliminary meeting in February 2017 by the WOSM team”, said Idelta Maria Rodriquez.
UNE-TL has been recognized by the government of Timor Leste since its establishment in December 2005. Scouts in Timor Leste participated in many Scouting events around the Asia-Pacific Region as well as in events organized by WOSM.
During its 11 years of existence, UNE-TL gained strong support from the local authorities. This is reflected in the increase of members in many municipalities and regions of Timor Leste.
