DILI, 17 august 2022 (TATOLI)—The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Adaljiza Albertina Xavier Reis Magno, said her office received positive news from the ASEAN Fact-Finding Mission (AFFM) of three pillars, saying that Timor-Leste will become a member of ASEAN in 2023.
“The results from the three pillars of the AFFM are very positive, this implies that we are making good progress in terms of development of human resources and economic growth,” said Minister Adaljiza after attending a meeting of the Council of Ministers at the Government Office, this Wednesday.
Despite this, Minister Magno admitted that Timor-Leste has to work harder to empower its human resources to attend more than 1000 high-level meetings after becoming a member of ASEAN.
“They have not formally provided us with the FFM results. However, verbally said the results of the FFM were very positive. if all goes well next year they will welcome us to ASEAN Organization,”
Regarding TL’s approach to ten (10) ASEAN member countries, Minister Adaljiza said that so far she has been actively holding meetings with high-ranking officials from each ASEAN member country to influence them to support the accession process itself.
The diplomat had previously visited Cambodia to participate in the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ meeting and had the opportunity to speak with the Secretary General of ASEAN, Lim Jock.
During the meeting, the Secretary General of ASEAN, Lim Jock acknowledged Timor-Leste’s warm welcomed to FFM delegation visits to Timor-Leste and appreciated Timor-Leste’s extraordinary efforts in the national development process in the infrastructure sector and the success in finalizing legislation to become a member of ASEAN and also the WTO (World Trade Organization).
In November 2022, the results of the FFM of the three pillars will be formally announced at the ASEAN Summit meeting while in 2023 there will be elections regarding the ASEAN member process from each country through consensus.
Meanwhile, Indonesian Ambassador, Okto Dorinus Manik said that Indonesia has been committed to TL to support accession to ASEAN and the WTO through the provision of human resource training.
He appreciated the TL who had been approaching all countries because the decision to become a member of ASEAN was a choice by consensus and Indonesia was committed to supporting TL.
Manik informed that the preparation process for Indonesia’s leadership in ASEAN next year is ongoing but for this time Indonesia will focus on the G20 Summit which will be held in Bali, Indonesia, November this year.
Journalist: Camilo de Sousa
Editor: Nelia B
