FIB USU PR- On Friday, March 6, 2026, the Undergraduate Study Program of History, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Sumatera Utara (FIB USU), organized a Guest Lecture entitled “Diplomatic Relations: Between Timor-Leste and Indonesia.” The lecture was conducted via Zoom Meeting and featured an academic from the Department of International Relations, University of Dili, Timor-Leste, Edegar da Conceição Savio, M.A., Ph.D.
The Guest Lecture was opened by the lecturer of the Contemporary Indonesian History course (1945–Present) as well as the Chair of the Academic Senate of Universitas Sumatera Utara, Prof. Dr. Budi Agustono, M.S. In his opening remarks, Prof. Budi Agustono stated that Indonesia and Timor-Leste share the same collective memory from more than 30 years of political relations, which also included human rights issues and the process leading to Timor-Leste’s independence in the early 2000s.
The lecture was moderated by a lecturer of the History Study Program of USU, Kiki Maulana Affandi, M.A. He explained that Edegar da Conceição Savio, M.A., Ph.D., is a graduate of Leiden University who completed his dissertation on the sociolinguistics of the Fataluku language in Lautém, Timor Lorossao. The speaker has extensive academic experience in various institutions and previously studied in Indonesia at the Indonesian Institute of Cooperative Management and Universitas Katolik Parahyangan, Bandung.
In his presentation, Edegar da Conceição Savio, M.A., Ph.D. explained that diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Timor-Leste remain positive to this day. Although both countries share historical memories related to human rights issues, these past events have become part of history, and the two nations have successfully moved forward through reconciliation. Currently, nearly 75% of products in the Timor-Leste market come from Indonesia, including fuel, staple goods, agricultural commodities, cement, and other products. This condition reflects that the reconciliation process between Timor-Leste and Indonesia is considered one of the best models in the world. The relationship between the two countries is not only economic but also educational, as many Timor-Leste students choose Indonesia as their study destination, including Universitas Gadjah Mada, Universitas Indonesia, and other universities.
This guest lecture provided valuable insights for History students by offering contemporary perspectives on Indonesia’s neighboring region, enabling students to develop a broader global outlook and greater awareness of Indonesia’s position within Southeast Asia. Furthermore, the lecture served as an important source of updated information regarding the current relations between Indonesia and Timor-Leste.
In the future, it is expected that academic collaboration can be further developed, particularly for students from Timor-Leste who wish to pursue their studies at Universitas Sumatera Utara, so that academic cooperation between Timor-Leste and Indonesia can continue to grow through Universitas Sumatera Utara.