Phnom Penh, 12 November 2022 (TDI): Leaders of the Southeast Asian nations shared a joint statement on the application of Timor-Leste for ASEAN membership to admit it as the 11th member of ASEAN on 11 November 2022.
During the 40th & 41st ASEAN Summits & Related Summits in Cambodia, ASEAN leaders considered the reports of the Fact-Finding Missions to Timor-Leste conducted by the ASEAN Political-Security Community, ASEAN Economic Community, & ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community.
According to the statement, ASEAN agreed in principle to admit Timor-Leste to be the 11th member of ASEAN. Moreover, they accorded Timor-Leste an observer status and allowed its participation in all ASEAN meetings including at the summit plenaries.
ASEAN will formalize the criteria-based roadmap for Timor-Leste’s full membership including the milestone identified in the reports of the Fact-Finding Missions, the statement added.
Moreover, considering this ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC) will formulate the road map and report to the 42nd ASEAN Summit for adoption.
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The statement urged ASEAN member states and external partners to ensure their full support to Timor-Leste for achieving this milestone through the provision of capacity-building assistance.
Southeast Asian states assured that they will provide any necessary and relevant support to Timor-Leste to achieve its full ASEAN membership in 2023.
Timorese Statement
The constitutional Government of Timor-Leste on 11 November released a statement on the ASEAN Leaders’ Statement on the application to admit it as the 11th member of ASEAN.
Timor-Leste’s government welcomed the decision and expressed pleasure to work closely with next year’s chair, the Republic of Indonesia.
The statement expressed delight on behalf of the country to coordinate and work with ASEAN Coordinating Council toward the preparation of a roadmap for its membership, the statement noted.
Moreover, Timor-Leste requested ASEAN to grant full membership in 2023. As per the statement, Timorese government acknowledged & thanked the ASEAN member states & especially the 2022 chair, Cambodia for their support & assistance to Timor-Leste.
Other than that, the Southeast Asian country appreciated and expressed gratitude to external partners of ASEAN for their support and for providing capacity-building assistance.
