The 2023 ASEAN Summit, to be held in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia, might be held on May September 11, 2023. This meeting will discuss 10 details called the Leaders’ Declaration and three issues which have the potential to be included within the 2023 ASEAN Summit Declaration , certainly one of which might be a discussion on the total membership of East Timor.
Earlier, Prime Minister of Timor-Leste Taur Matan Ruak agreed to take part in the forty second ASEAN Summit in 2023 as an observer. This might be East Timor’s first participation within the ASEAN summit. Because on the previous ASEAN Summit held in Phnom Penh in November 2022, Timor-Leste didn’t join. However, the principle is already in force that it has been agreed that East Timor will change into the eleventh member of ASEAN.
Yesterday, on the opening of the forty second ASEAN Summit in 2023, Wednesday (May 5), the Prime Minister of East Timor said that this can be a recent chapter within the history of East Timor that may have a positive impact on various sectors, each economic and social.
On the opposite hand, the ASEAN Coordinating Council Working Group on East Timor (ACC-WGTL) continues to debate ways to enhance the roadmap towards full membership of East Timor. This is because Timor-Leste still needs to finish several matters, resembling establishing a diplomatic mission to ASEAN, in addition to adapting national regulations related to ASEAN treaties and documents. However, it’s hoped that Timor-Leste will soon give you the chance to fulfill the factors that might be set tomorrow so as to then change into a full member of ASEAN.
Nevertheless, Timor-Leste’s participation within the ASEAN Summit this time may indicate that Timor-Leste not faces significant obstacles to joining ASEAN. Only just a few procedural requirements remain to be implemented.
Reference:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia. (2023). Press Release: President of Indonesia to announce the forty second ASEAN Summit Statement in 2023. kemlu.go.id
2023 ASEAN Summit Communications and Media Team (2023). Press Release ASEAN Summit 2023: Indonesia supports East Timor’s membership in ASEAN. kemenparekraf.go.id
Ministry of Communications and IT. (2023). The Prime Minister of East Timor expresses gratitude for Indonesia’s support. asean2023.id
