DILI, 08 august 2023 (TATOLI) – Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão wishes to congratulate the ASEAN Heads of State and its member States on the occasion of the 56th anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
“From Timor-Leste, I extend our warmest congratulations to ASEAN on 56 years of promoting stability, unity, and peace in the region,” Gusmão said in a statement.
He said ASEAN has supported development and prosperity for the great benefit of the region and its people.
“Bringing together such diversity of culture, history, and religion, ASEAN has built a community of respect and tolerance. Southeast Asia is now a dynamic economic powerhouse that is looking to the future with great optimism,” Gusmão said.
Following 24 years of struggle for independence, and another 21 years of a new struggle to build our democratic State and the foundations of a developed and sustainable Nation, Timor-Leste is still seeking to understand the principles that guided ASEAN to transform Southeast Asia into a community of Nations, where trust, friendship, and cooperation are the values that hold together so many different countries.
“That is why Timor-Leste is a founding member of an inter-governmental organization, called ‘g7+’, that has a permanent Observer status in the United Nations, and fights for peace and development and, importantly, to build Democratic States that respect Human Rights and Democracy,” Gusmão stressed.
“This is the most critical objective that, along with the other 19 Member-States, Timor-Leste is working to achieve and, fortunately, we have proven to the world that Timor-Leste is on the right path, as demonstrated so well in the peaceful and democratic participation in our recent Presidential and Parliamentary elections.”
Gusmão added that together with other ASEAN Members States: “We can tackle the challenges we face and grasp the great opportunities the region presents to all of us.”
“Again, allow me to Congratulate ASEAN and wish you continued success as you build a stronger ASEAN that respects Human Rights and Democratic Freedoms,” said Gusmão.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has 10 member states (Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam), with Timor-Leste as an observer state and Papua New Guinea as a candidate state.
On 8 august 1967 the “Bangkok Declaration” gave birth to ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, an organization that would unite five countries in a joint effort to promote economic co-operation and the welfare of their peoples.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges
