1. Sohn Bong-Scuk, former Commissioner of the United Nations International Electoral Commission for East Timor Popular Consultation, will attend “Celebrations of the 20th Anniversary of the Referendum (Popular Consultation)” to take place in Dili, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, on August 30.

2. With this year marking the 20th anniversary of the Timor-Leste’s national referendum in 1999 which decided the Timor-Leste’s independence from the Republic of Indonesia, the government of Timor-Leste is planning to hold the first world-level event ever in history in celebration of its 20th independence anniversary.

3. The Republic of Korea (ROK) has played an active role in the independence process of Timor-Leste, as can be seen from the late President Kim Dae-jung’s strong emphasis on the need for the international community to provide assistance to Timor-Leste at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit held in New Zealand in September 1999, former Commissioner Sohn’s participation in electoral management and the dispatch of the Evergreen Force to the country.

○ After the independence of Timor-Leste, the ROK continues to cooperate closely with Timor-Leste in such areas as development cooperation for economic development and growth of Timor-Leste.