Video of our meeting with Xanana Gusmão at the University of Coimbra in Portugal. The Faculty of Law of the University of Coimbra (FDUC) invited Eminent Person of g7+, Dr. Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, to speak on the “Statebuilding and Rule Of Law In A Post-Covid World: Challenges And Opportunities” on 6 December in Coimbra, Portugal.
Xanana Gusmão, former Prime-Minister of the Democratic Republic of East Timor (Timor-Leste) and its former President, was awarded an honorary Doctor Honoris Causa degree from the University of Coimbra in 2011.
Xanana surprised to see the Peace Run team exclaims, "Peace Run! Sri Chinmoy!"
Our Peace Run Director for Portugal Florbela Caniceiro presented Xanana with a beautiful ceramic plate with a rendition of Sri Chinmoy's "Peace Birds" and one of his peace aphorisms.
Florbela with Timor-Leste Ambassador and CPLP Representative Isabel Guterres and g7+ General Secretary Helder da Costa.
In his speech to the law students Xanana said, "We need to see the law in the rule of law. I believe that States under the rule of law must primarily seek to promote the “unconditional human asset” as a supreme goal for EVERYONE, with no exceptions! ...We share a common challenge. The Coronavirus pandemic and the Omicron variant are not the only things that cross borders – there is also terrorism, unemployment, corruption and even authoritarianism. Maybe it is time to realise that no one is safe until everyone is safe."
Coimbra University students hold the torch. It was lovely to meet you and special thanks to the g7+ for enabling this to happen.
