VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Team of Indonesian permanent representative for ASEAN conduct a visit to Timor Leste to view the readiness of the youngest country in South-East Asia to be the 11th member. Director General of Cooperation for ASEAN of the Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry, Jose Antonio Morato Tavares to RRI World Service in Jakarta on Tuesday said that the membership of Timor Leste in ASEAN has to based on consensus of all members of ASEAN. Therefore, Indonesian government continously makes an effort to support Timor Leste’s membership in ASEAN by asking the former youngest province in Indonesia to attanded several occassion that related to ASEAN.

“Timor Leste membership offcourse have to be based on the consensus. Recently, the committee permanent representative, Pak Ade Padmo with his team made a visit there to see Timor Leste readiness to be member of ASEAN, and in the future we also engage Timor Leste in several non- decision making meetings. Timor Leste is also invited to attand Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum in Manila and they were there, they begin to observed. We hope other ASEAN member countries know and it soon can be member of ASEAN,” said Director General of Cooperation for ASEAN of the Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry, Jose Antonio Morato Tavares.

Timor Leste’s will to be member of ASEAN has been struck by one country that caused the delaye of its membership in ASEAN. The decision to make Timor Leste as the member of ASEAN is a political decision of head of state. Timor Leste’s proposal to ASEAN has been submitted since 2011 when Indonesia was Chairman of ASEAN and Indonesia supports the proposal. (VOI/Viqran/trans : NK/AHM)