Dili，February 4, 2023（AseanAll）—  Ambassador of Germany to Indonesia and Timor-Leste, Ina Lepel said that Germany fully supports Timor-Leste’s applications for ASEAN membership.  

Ambassador of Germany to Indonesia and Timor-Leste, Ina Lepel (Photo Tatoli)

According to Tatoli (Timor-Leste News Agency ），the Ambassador made the comments after meeting with the President of Timor-Leste, José Ramos Horta, at the Presidential Palace on February 3，2023. 

During the meeting,  Ina and the Head of State discussed many things related to Timor-Leste ’s application for ASEAN membership.  

"We discussed bilateral relations between our two countries and also about the development of Timor-Leste, especially Timor-Leste’s bid for ASEAN membership which, of course, Germany fully supports," Ina said.  

At the meeting, President Horta also shared with Ambassador Ina a lot of information about Timor-Leste’s efforts in trying to join ASEAN within 2023 or next year.  

"So I received a lot of very interesting new information about Timor-Leste’s application for full membership in ASEAN. And I wish Timor-Leste the best success in this endeavor, "Ina said.  

Ina stressed that education and capacity building, as well as connectivity and the Internet, are important for Timor-Leste when it becomes one of ASEAN’s full members.  

"Right now, we are focusing on helping Timor-Leste in education and capacity building,"Ina concluded.