"Indonesia will fully support Timor Leste`s bid to become a member of ASEAN."Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia is to help Timor Leste become a member of the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN), a presidential spokesman said.
"Indonesia will fully support Timor Leste`s bid to become a member of ASEAN. We will make use of our position as ASEAN chair this year to that end," presidential special spokesman for foreign affairs Tengku Faizasyah said here on Thursday after attending President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono`s meeting with Timor Leste`s Foreign Affairs Minister Zacarias Albano da Costa.
Faizasyah said Indonesia had taken several steps in its effort to help Timor Leste join ASEAN, namely the establishment of an ASEAN secretariat office in the neighboring country.
"The office reflects our vision that, in due course of time, Timor Leste will become a member of ASEAN. The infrastructure has been set up and hopefully Timor Leste`s membership in ASEAN can be realized soon," he said.
Faizasyah said Minister Da Costa who was visiting Indonesia March 3-4 would meet with Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa. "The ministerial meeting would be used to prepare materials to be brought up during a meeting between President Yudhoyono and President Xanana Gusmao next March 22," Faizasyah said.
On the same occasion, Minister Natalegawa said his counterpart from Timor Leste would soon present his country`s official letter applying for ASEAN membership.
During the Thursday meeting, Da Costa also presented to President Yudhoyono a letter from President Xanana Gusmao regarding Timor Leste`s intention to become member of ASEAN.
(Uu.A051/HAJM/A014)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
