New Delhi, Dec. 16 -- MS Patiyal has been appointed as India's next ambassador to Timor Leste, as per an official statement from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

In a statement on Monday, MEA said, "MS Patiyal (YOA: 2007), presently posted at Embassy of India, Tunis, has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Democratic Republic of Timor Leste."

He is expected to take up the assignment shortly.

India and Timor-Leste enjoy warm and friendly relations based on shared commitment to the values of democracy, pluralism and diversity.

India was one of the early countries to establish diplomatic relations with Timor-Leste and was represented at its Independence Day celebrations in May 2002 by a high-level delegation led ...