Jakarta, (Antara) - Indonesia will continue to promote Timor Leste to become an ASEAN member, according to Director of Inter-Regional Dialog Partner at the Directorate of ASEAN Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Derry Aman.
"Indonesia is one of the countries promoting Timor Leste to become a member of the ASEAN," Derry said here on Thursday (July 21).
He confirmed that the process of Timor Leste joining the ASEAN had shown progress.
"The process is lengthy. Those who are not directly involved in the process might say it is not running. However, the actual process is still running and involves parties outside the ASEAN," Derry remarked.
Derry admitted that there are some ASEAN member countries that continue to oppose the idea of Timor Leste joining the ASEAN.
However, Derry affirmed that the Indonesian government continues to encourage the membership of Timor Leste in the ASEAN, including by convincing ASEAN countries that are opposed to the proposal.
"Indonesia is committed to being the main driver for Timor Leste to join the ASEAN. The process has been ongoing for more than a decade. There is progress," he pointed out.
Derry said several parties outside the ASEAN are involved in reviewing the capacity of Timor Leste to meet the standards of the ASEAN that comprises three pillars: politics and security, economy, and socio-culture.
"Each pillar is reviewed, and this means involving third parties. So far, the economy and politics pillars have been reviewed. We are now awaiting the results of a review on the socio-culture aspect," he revealed.
Derry stated that until the review on these three aspects is not completed, the next procedure cannot be started.(*)
COPYRIGHT © ANTARA News Jawa Timur 2016
"Indonesia is one of the countries promoting Timor Leste to become a member of the ASEAN," Derry said here on Thursday (July 21).
He confirmed that the process of Timor Leste joining the ASEAN had shown progress.
"The process is lengthy. Those who are not directly involved in the process might say it is not running. However, the actual process is still running and involves parties outside the ASEAN," Derry remarked.
Derry admitted that there are some ASEAN member countries that continue to oppose the idea of Timor Leste joining the ASEAN.
However, Derry affirmed that the Indonesian government continues to encourage the membership of Timor Leste in the ASEAN, including by convincing ASEAN countries that are opposed to the proposal.
"Indonesia is committed to being the main driver for Timor Leste to join the ASEAN. The process has been ongoing for more than a decade. There is progress," he pointed out.
Derry said several parties outside the ASEAN are involved in reviewing the capacity of Timor Leste to meet the standards of the ASEAN that comprises three pillars: politics and security, economy, and socio-culture.
"Each pillar is reviewed, and this means involving third parties. So far, the economy and politics pillars have been reviewed. We are now awaiting the results of a review on the socio-culture aspect," he revealed.
Derry stated that until the review on these three aspects is not completed, the next procedure cannot be started.(*)
Editor : Chandra Hamdani Noer
COPYRIGHT © ANTARA News Jawa Timur 2016