PHL backs Timor Leste bid for ASEAN membership

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario on Thursday reaffirmed the Philippines’ support for Timor Leste’s application to the Association of South East Asian Nations as the regional bloc’s 11th member state.

Del Rosario conveyed the country’s support during a bilateral meeting in Manila with his counterpart, Timor Leste Foreign Minister Hernani Coelho Da Silva.

Timor Leste, also known as East Timor, gained its independence from Indonesia in May 20, 2002. Before Indonesia took over, East Timor was a colony of Portugal for centuries until November 1975.

“Timor Leste belongs to Southeast Asia and should be granted its rightful place within the ASEAN community,” Del Rosario told Coelho.

Timor Leste has long sought for ASEAN membership, but the bloc’s members, which decides by consensus, have failed over the years to reach an agreement on whether or not it could accommodate the request.

In Coelho’s first official visit to the Philippines, both countries reaffirmed their strong partnership, which was established in May 2002.

Del Rosario and Coelho also discussed enhancing cooperation in the areas of defense, economic relations, education, health, and technical/capacity building.

They also tackled the strong people-to-people linkages between Manila and Dili and vowed to continue their efforts to deepen their relations through an existing policy consultations mechanism. The first meeting was held in Manila in 2014.

“The policy consultations will continue to serve as a vehicle to facilitate matters of mutual interest in the years to come,” Del Rosario said.

Del Rosario likewise encouraged Coelho to continue sending Timor-Leste diplomats to the Philippines to participate in training courses offered by the country’s Foreign Service Institute.

The Secretary hoped that the training program will significantly contribute to the professional development of the East Timor diplomats and forge greater bond between their two governments. —KBK, GMA News