• President Droupadi Murmu was conferred the Grand Collar of the Order of Timor-Leste, the country’s highest civilian award. 

• President Jose Ramos-Horta also hosted a State Banquet in honour of President Murmu at Palacio Nobre De Lohane. 

• The award is in recognition of her achievements in public service and dedication to education, social welfare and empowerment of women. 

• President Murmu said that the honour is a reflection of the ties of friendship between India and Timor-Leste.

• She announced that India will soon open its embassy in Dili.

• It was the first-ever presidential visit from India to Timor-Leste. 

• Murmu arrived in Dili on the last leg of her three-nation visit on August 10 after concluding her trip to New Zealand and Fiji.

Order of Timor-Leste

• The purpose of the ‘Order of Timor-Leste’ is to recognise and thank those nationals or foreigners, who, by way of their conduct or acts, have made a significant contribution to benefiting the country, the Timorese or mankind. 

The Order of Timor-Leste is divided into following categories:

i)) Great collar

ii) Collar

iii) Medal

iv) Insignia.

• Each grade can only be bestowed once on the same individual.

• The Great Collar is bestowed exclusively on Heads of sovereign States.

Timor-Leste

• Timor-Leste is also known as East Timor.

• Timor-Leste became an independent nation in May 2002, following over 400 years of Portuguese colonisation, 24 years of Indonesian occupation, and three years of United Nations transitional administration. 

• Timor-Leste’s independence in 2002 resulted from a UN-sponsored referendum in August 1999.

• The country was officially recognised by the United Nations in 2002, making it Asia’s youngest democracy.

• The country faces the challenge of building a strong democracy and vibrant economy against a background of still-fragile institutions and limited human capital. 

• The capital of East Timor is Dili.

• The resource-rich country of 1.3 million people immediately started the process of accession to ASEAN, but only formally applied for membership in 2011.

• Timor-Leste’s foreign policy places high priority on relationships with its nearest neighbours, Indonesia and Australia, and other neighbors in the region. 

• Timor-Leste also places a high priority on its relations with friendly countries and donors, most notably the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), member states of ASEAN, and the g7+ grouping of fragile and post-conflict states.

• In 2020, Timor-Leste has also commenced the process for acceding to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) as a least developed country (LDC).

• In 1996, Jose Ramos-Horta was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize along with Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo  for their work towards a just and peaceful solution to the conflict in East Timor.

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