DILI, 9 november 2021 (TATOLI) – The Secretariat of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) organized a virtual follow-up meeting between Timor-Leste, the organisation’s Official Superior Committee of Member States, stakeholders and sectoral bodies on updating the socio-cultural activities of this organization, as well as to discuss Timor-Leste’s membership of this regional association and establish future closer cooperation with the ASEAN secretariat in Jakarta.
The Director General of the MNEC, which deals with issue related to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Milena Rangel, said that the meeting intends to update Timor-Leste’s efforts to become a member of the association made since the last meeting held in September 2020, as well as allowing the country to familiarize itself with the organization’s activities and giving ASEAN permission to interact with national and international government counterparts residing in the country.
“The purpose of the meeting was to communicate Timor-Leste’s most recent steps in the accession process and allow for better knowledge and involvement in the organization’s socio-cultural activities”, Rangel made a comment after the metting at the Institution of Diplomats hall in MNEC.
Milena Rangel also highlighted that the virtual meeting will provide a platform for the focal point and the sectoral bodies of sociocultural activities to establish a close and adequate connection and communication with Timor-Leste, namely with its relevant ministries and agencies, even before the the Exploratory Mission to discuss the ASEAN questionnaire that Timor-Leste had to answer.
Rangel revealed that “both Timor-Leste and ASEAN considered the event very productive for the preparation of the ASCC Exploratory Mission to Timor-Leste” and also “to intensify Timor-Leste’s involvement with ASEAN, especially through the meetings of the ASEAN Sociocultural Community (ASCC) and Capacity Building Programs”.
According to Rangel, Timor-Leste will also share with ASEAN the priorities of the ASCC and the list of focal points after an internal consultation. The event consisted of two separate sessions. The first session was held exclusively between ASEAN, the Senior Official Committee of the Organization’s Member States, the MNEC and all relevant bodies.
The second session took place under an open regime between ASEAN and Government counterparts. The virtual meeting was attended by representatives of various civil society organizations – the Judicial System Monitoring Program (JSMP), Hamnasa, the Communication Forum for Timorese Women (FOKUPERS) – and international organizations with representation in Timor-Leste , like the UN.
Journalist: Afonso do Rosário
Editor: Rafy Belo
Translation: Camilo de Sousa
