Timor-Leste’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation HernaniCoelho da Silva has highlighted the nation's commitment and readiness tobecome a member of ASEAN.
The minister reiterated that ASEANremains a key priority in Timor-Leste's foreign policy during a meetingwith ASEAN Secretary General Le Luong Minh at the ASEAN Secretariatheadquarters in Jakarta, Indonesia on April 17.
Timor-Leste ismaking intensive preparations to boost its institutional capacity andhuman capital to participate in ASEAN activities. The enacted measuresinclude the establishment of a general directorate for ASEAN and theappointment of a secretary of state for ASEAN affairs under the Ministryof Foreign Affairs and Cooperation.
According to the minister,Timor-Leste also aims to complete the opening of embassies in all ASEANcapitals by the first half of 2016. The country is looking forward toASEAN approval of Timor-Leste's membership application.
For hispart, the ASEAN chief praised Timor-Leste’s development efforts,especially in securing political stability, developing a vibrant economyand fostering dynamic external relations.
He appreciatedTimor-Leste's strategic decision to become an ASEAN member and itsactive efforts to consolidate its bid for ASEAN membership.
Heaffirmed the commitment of the group and ASEAN member states to provideassistance for Timor-Leste, especially in human resource development andinstitutional building.
The minister unveiled thathis country is implementing public administration reforms to ensure moreefficient service delivery for its people. Timor-Leste has also beenactively extending its bilateral relations and outreach in the regionand beyond, based on the principles of human rights, democracy, goodgovernance, justice and the supremacy of international law.
The visit to the ASEAN Secretariat was part of the foreign minister'sactivities in Jakarta ahead of the 60th Anniversary of the Asian-AfricanConference Commemoration in the Indonesian capital city.-VNA
