KUALA LUMPUR: Timor-Leste’s full membership in Asean marks a victory not only for its people but also for the wider Asean family, said Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Minister Bendito dos Santos Freitas.
He said the milestone reflects the culmination of the nation’s decades-long struggle for freedom and its commitment to regional unity.
“It’s a historic moment for us for Timor-Leste. We have finally joined Asean, and tomorrow, at the 47th Summit, we will be part of the family.
“This is a victory for us, for our people, and also for the Asean family.
“We thank all Asean stakeholders who have contributed so much to our journey.
“This gives us a stronger voice in politics, diplomacy, and foreign affairs,” he told the press on the sidelines of Asean’s Foreign Ministers’ Meeting here today.
Freitas said Timor-Leste’s accession symbolises the country’s integration into a shared regional identity.
“We are becoming more united as a region, as a family of Asean.
“For the people of Timor-Leste, this moment means a lot. It is not a gift, but the result of a long journey to achieve what we have today.”
Earlier today, Timor-Leste officially deposited its Instruments of Accession to the Asean Charter and the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ), formalising its position as Asean’s eleventh member state.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan had said that by acceding to the Charter, Timor-Leste has pledged to walk hand in hand with Asean, weaving the aspirations of its people into the fabric of the ever-evolving regional community.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
