"During the recent ASEAN Summit (in May 2025), it was decided that its full membership will be formalized at the upcoming summit," Suryodipuro stated regarding Timor-Leste's ASEAN membership in a press conference on Thursday.
After hosting the 46th ASEAN Summit last May, Kuala Lumpur will host the 47th ASEAN Summit in October 2025.
He explained that Timor-Leste has applied for ASEAN membership since 2011 and has undergone the accession process required by ASEAN countries, including through direct assessments of the country.
Although the direct assessment was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the accession process continued, and in 2022, Timor-Leste was accepted "in principle" as ASEAN's newest member, the director general remarked.
Regarding reports that the Myanmar junta had suddenly backtracked and opposed Timor-Leste's inclusion in ASEAN, Suryodipuro stated that Myanmar must make its stance clear to all ASEAN members.
"We have not discussed or heard it yet from the Myanmar envoy," the ministry's official noted while reminding that Timor-Leste's membership status has been finalized at the last ASEAN Summit.
He remarked that follow-up actions to Myanmar's decision might be discussed at the upcoming ASEAN Ministerial Meeting and Post-Ministerial Conference (AMM-PMC) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, next week.
According to international media reports, the Myanmar junta has officially notified Malaysia, as the holder of ASEAN Chairmanship this year, of their opposition to Timor-Leste's accession as ASEAN's newest member.
They contended that the Timorese government's vocal support for Myanmar's pro-democracy opposition violates the ASEAN Charter's non-intervention principle, and therefore, Timor-Leste should not be granted membership.
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Reporter: Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Primayanti
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