DILI, 13 March 2025 (TATOL) – In a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (MoFAC), UJIKE Keisuke, Representative of JICA in Timor-Leste, formally handed over a comprehensive set of translated ASEAN legal instruments to Milena Rangel, Vice Minister for ASEAN Affairs.
This significant handover includes 91 documents comprising 76 ASEAN legal Instruments, meticulously translated from the original English versions into Tetum and Portuguese.
“The translations were funded by JICA as part of the “Project for Enhancement of Coordination and Monitoring for ASEAN Accession” which has been underway since May 2024,”Kaisuke said at MoFAC in Dili today
The translated documents encompass key instruments under the three pillars of the ASEAN Community: 23 documents related to the ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC), 9 documents pertaining to the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) and 59 documents associated with the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC).
This milestone marks a crucial step for Timor-Leste’s preparations to become a full member of ASEAN in 2025. The translated documents will facilitate the alignment of Timor-Leste’s legal and regulatory frameworks with ASEAN standards, enhancing the country’s readiness for accession.
Following the handover, MNEC’s legal team will conduct minor revisions of the translated documents before presenting the final versions to the Council of Ministers for appreciation. Subsequently, these documents will be forwarded to the National Parliament for ratification and then to the President of the Republic for promulgation, which will be published in the “Jornal da República”.
This initiative underscores the collaborative efforts between Timor-Leste and international partners like JICA to support the country’s integration into the ASEAN community.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
