VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Timor Leste’s efforts to join the regional organization of Southeast Asia, ASEAN receives full support from Indonesia. The continuation of East Timor's membership in ASEAN itself will soon be discussed by the ASEAN Secretary-General in Jakarta. This was stated by Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Retno L.P. Marsudi on the sidelines of a bilateral meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Republic of Timor Leste, Aurellio Gutteres at Pancasila Building, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in Jakarta, Wednesday, January 31, 2018.

“For the membership of East Timor in ASEAN, the Foreign Minister has just returned from Singapore. Now, ASEAN membership is in Singapore and the issue will also e discussed later in the afternoon and will be discussed also with the ASEAN Secretary General. And the position of Indonesia is quite clear that we support the application of Timor Leste to become ASEAN member countries and we have gone through a long process,” Retno L.P. Marsudi said.

Minister Retno L.P Marsudi added that in relation to Timor Leste's membership in ASEAN, Indonesia still sees how the results of the study relate to it. However, in principle, Indonesia continues to support Timor Leste's membership in ASEAN.//// (VOI/Rezha/ahm)