DILI, 10 august 2022 (TATOLI) – Timor-Leste has met all the membership criteria to become the new member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Timorese Foreign Minister, Adaljiza Albertina Xavier Reis Magno has said.
“According to the report of the Fact-Finding Missions of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC), and ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC), Timor-Leste has met the conditions for ASEAN membership,” Minister Magno told reporters at the Palace of the Government, today.
Magno said that Cambodia was the first country willing to announce Timor-Leste’s membership in ASEAN next year: “During the 29th ASEAN Regional Forum in Cambodia, in his speech, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen informed that they intend to welcome Timor-Leste as the new members of ASEAN in 2023. I heard it myself.”
“But Timor-Leste’s accession will be decided by consensus of ASEAN member States on the ASEAN summit, based on the recommendations of the Fact-Finding Missions,” she said.
Magno said ASEAN member States had pledged to announce Timor-Leste’s membership next year: “We hope they will keep their promise.”
On 3-6 september 2019, H.E. Mrs. Busaya Mathelin, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, led the ASEAN Political-Security Community Fact-Finding Mission (APSC FFM) to Dili, Timor-Leste as part of the assessment of Timor-Leste’s readiness to become a member of ASEAN.
Timor-Leste currently has diplomatic missions in all ASEAN Member States and is ready to open a permanent mission to ASEAN in Jakarta. In addition, Timor-Leste has been a Participant in the ASEAN Regional Forum since 2005 and became a High Contracting Party to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia in 2007.
The ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Fact-Finding Mission to Timor-Leste took place on 6-8 July where the country reiterated its readiness to become a member of ASEAN. The fact-finding mission was held under the leadership of the Senior Officials Committee for the ASCC (SOCA) chaired by Dr. Dy Khamboly from Cambodia.
Related News:https://en.tatoli.tl/2022/07/04/asean-fact-finding-mission-on-ascc-arrives-in-dili-today/06/
The ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Fact-Finding Mission to Timor-Leste was conducted on 19-21 July, led by Rath Saravuth, Director General of International Trade, Ministry of Commerce of the Kingdom of Cambodia, as ASEAN Senior Economic Officials Meeting (SEOM) Chair for 2022.
Timor Leste officially applied for membership in ASEAN on march 4, 2011.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges
