Jakarta, March 9 (AseanAll) — "All ASEAN High Officials want Timor-Leste to immediately become an ASEAN member state," Arto Suryodipuro, Director General for ASEAN Cooperation, Indonesia SOM Leaders stated on the sidelines of the 15th ASEAN Coordinating Council Working Group on Timor-Leste's Membership in ASEAN (ACCWG-TL) in ASEAN, Jakarta.
Photo source:Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia
According to the news released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia on March 6，the meeting was intended to further discuss the decision of the ASEAN Leaders in 2022 to accept Timor-Leste as the 11th member of ASEAN in principle. On this occasion, ASEAN High Officials exchanged views on the concept of a Roadmap for Timor Leste’s full membership. They expect the Road Map to be prepared in a concise, clear, realistic manner with a clear time frame.
Photo source:Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia
In addition, various capacity-building activities in the three pillars provided to Timor-Leste were also discussed, both by ASEAN Member Countries and in collaboration with ASEAN Dialogue Partners.
The meeting was attended by ASEAN member countries' High Officials who support cooperation in the political-security, economic and socio-cultural fields. Timor-Leste High Officials also attended the meeting as part of efforts to familiarize ASEAN working mechanisms and processes. This is also in accordance with the instructions of the ASEAN Leaders to allow Timor-Leste to become an observer at various ASEAN meetings.
Photo source:Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia
At the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summits in Phnom Penh, November 2022, ASEAN Leaders agreed to establish Timor-Leste as the 11th member state, as stated in the ASEAN Leaders' Statement on the Application of Timor-Leste for ASEAN Memberships. Through this joint statement, Timor-Leste also obtained an observer status and is able to attend ASEAN plenary meetings in the future.
Timor Leste’s membership road map is currently being prepared by ASEAN and is expected to be adopted at the 42nd ASEAN Summit which is planned to take place in Labuan Bajo, May 2023.
