DILI, october 11, 2021 (TATOLI) – The Director-General for Affairs Related to the Association and Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (MNEC), Milena Rangel, said that Timor-Leste’s accession to the Association of Nations of Southeast Asia (ASEAN) will be discussed next year in Cambodia.
“We are in contact with the Timor-Leste technical team and embassy in Cambodia regarding the preparation of this country for a rotating ASEAN presidency next year so that we can present our preparations for joining this community,” Milena Rangel told Tatoli Agency, at Praia dos Coqueiros, in Dili.
Milena Rangel recalled that this decision came after the statement by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Cambodia, Prak Sokhonn, at the meeting of ASEAN leaders, chaired by Brunei Darussalam, last week, on preparations of Cambodia to lead a rotating presidency of this organization in 2022.
The leader considers that the country’s adhesion to this regional organization depends on the discussion agenda among ASEAN leaders.
It is recalled that the five embassies of ASEAN member countries headquartered in Dili (Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Brunei Darussalam, and Thailand) pledged to assist in the preparation of Timor-Leste’s accession process to the organization.
Since September 2019, three meetings have been successfully held for each of the pillars of the association with the Government of Timor-Leste. The first meeting was aimed at preparing the visit of the fact-finding mission on political security; the second, in virtual format, a service to discuss the socio-cultural pillar; the third, also virtual, was held between economic affairs experts from the Southeast Asia region and ASEAN economic ministers.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Adalzija Magno, also noted that Timor-Leste’s dream of becoming a member of ASEAN has existed since 1975 when the country proclaimed its independence, but it has not materialized yet.
“Currently, we are preparing to send the application. We hope that the process is completed and that we have fulfilled the requirements for us to be a member of ASEAN in one day,” said Rangel.
However, Ms. Rangel said, there are still few requirements that need to be fulfilled by Timor-Leste in the area of Economy.
“There are three pillars: sociocultural, security, and political and economic. Many requirements were listed in the documents since we still have economic problems, among others,” she said.
Rangel said, that Timor-Leste’s accession process will be included a visit by the ASEAN fact-finding team to Dili to carry out a comprehensive assessment, which was delayed due to the covid-19 pandemic.
ASEAN is an economic bloc composed of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam, in addition to the observer countries Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste.
Created on August 8, 1967, this group has the objective in the socio-economic development of the region, the maintenance of political stability, the promotion of peace, the realization of projects and investments in the agricultural, industrial and educational sectors, not interfering in the internal affairs of each country members.
Journalist: Camilo de Sousa
Editor: Nelia Borges
