Milestone of ASEAN-Timor Leste Relations

ASEAN's decision to accept Timor Leste as the 11th member will strengthen both sides. Southeast Asia has the potential to become stronger amid the current global and regional dynamics.

KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO

Timor Leste Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak (left) after a bilateral meeting with President Joko Widodo on the sidelines of the 42 ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara, Tuesday (9/5/2023).

WEST MANGGARAI, KOMPAS — The embracing of Timor Leste as a member ofASEAN is a milestone for the organization and the region. The 42nd ASEAN Summit has adopted a roadmap on Timor Leste's full membership in ASEAN and confirmed support for Timor Leste in its efforts to follow the ASEAN development path.

Spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry, Teuku Faizasyah, said ASEAN was strengthening after Timor Leste was principally accepted as a member. "Indonesia consistently supports Timor Leste's entry as a member of ASEAN," he said, on Friday (12/5/2023) in West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).

With Timor Leste's membership, everycountry geographically located in Southeast Asia is anASEAN member. ASEAN is truly intact as an organization that represents the region. Southeast Asia has the potential to grow stronger amid the current global and regional dynamics.

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Its geographical location was the first requirement that Timor Leste fulfilledin becoming a member of ASEAN. The ASEAN Charter stipulates that prospective new members must be located in Southeast Asia. Second, acceptance of new members must be with the approval of old members. Third, prospective new members agree to be bound and comply with all ASEAN instruments, documents and provisions. Finally, new members are willing and able to fulfill their various obligations as members.

Since November 2022, in principle, ASEAN has accepted Timor Leste as a member. Therefore, even though it does not yet have voting rights, Timor Leste has participated in various ASEAN meetings while Indonesia has become the rotating chairman in 2023.

We will be one of the trusted leaders in the region. We will be your partners.

Timor Leste’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Adaljiza Magno attended the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) in Jakarta, in February 2023. Meanwhile, Timor Leste’s Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak attended the 42nd ASEAN Summit in West Manggarai, on 10-11 May 2023. "We believe we are on the right track," said Taur at the Summit.

Taur said his presence at the 42nd ASEAN Summit was a historic moment for Timor Leste. Dili chose the right step in global and regional dynamics. "Together with ASEAN, we will be prosperous. We will be one of the trusted leaders in the region. We will be your partners," he said, as quoted from a video broadcast by the Indonesian President’s Office.

Taur is grateful for ASEAN's full support when Timor Leste became a full member of ASEAN. He also appreciated the approval of ASEAN leaders for similar support. "I would like to express my gratitude to all ASEAN leaders for their support and commitment so far to realize one of the goals in becoming a member of ASEAN and joining the big ASEAN family," he said.

KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO

ASEAN leaders who attended the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, wore woven clothes with manuk eyes motifs, a typical West Manggarai motif in Labuan Bajo Bay on Thursday (11/5/2023).

Roadmap

The 42nd ASEAN Summit is historic because Taur is attending for the first time to represent Dili. The Summit also adopted a roadmap for full membership of Timor Leste as the 11th member of ASEAN. The certainty of adopting the roadmap was revealed in the final statement by the Chair of ASEAN which was released on Thursday (11/5).

Timor Leste officially applied to become a member of ASEAN in 2011. Before applying to become a member, Dili first participated in the ASEAN Regional Forum starting in 2005. Meanwhile, in 2007, Timor Leste acceded to the ASEAN Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation (TAC).

"Following the decision to accept, in principle, Timor Leste as the 11th member of ASEAN, we adopted a road map for Timor Leste's full membership in ASEAN and an explanatory document, and encourage Timor Leste to intensify Timor Leste's efforts to prepareits full membership in ASEAN. We reaffirm support for Timor Leste to achieve this milestone through the provision of capacity-building assistance and other support necessary and relevant for TimorLeste's full membership in ASEAN,” the final statement read.

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Dili, among others, must build a number of facilities and infrastructure to become a full member of ASEAN. Timor Leste must make Nicolau Lobato Airport accessible to the planes of ASEAN delegates and travelers. Timor Leste also needs to provide telecommunication and information infrastructure connected to the international undersea cable network.

All of this is to ensure that Timor Leste can become a full member. One of the obligations of the members is to host various ASEAN meetings. Therefore, each member needs various facilities to be able to hold meetings smoothly.

In addition to its physical development, Timor Leste must spur non-physical development. Dili must increase its apparatus, civilian or military, so that it can meet ASEAN's various work standards. Timor Leste must also accede to various ASEAN documents and instruments, then integrate them into their legal system. No less important, Timor Leste must have diplomatic representation in all ASEAN members.

To reach full membership in ASEAN, there are various agreements that must be fulfilled by Timor Leste.

Director general of ASEAN cooperation at the Foreign Ministry, Sidharto Reza Suryodhipuro, said Indonesia continues to assist Dili in becoming a full member of ASEAN. Indonesia is accompanying Timor Leste inadjusting tothe agreement in the economic, socio-cultural and political fields.

"To reach full membership in ASEAN, there are various agreements that must be fulfilled by Timor Leste, and what is quite complicated is the economic field," said Sidharto.

This article was translated by Kurnia Siswo.