On 3-6 September 2019, Mrs. Busaya Mathelin, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, led the ASEAN Political-Security Community Fact-Finding Mission (APSC FFM) to Dili, Timor-Leste as part of the assessment of Timor-Leste’s readiness to become a member of ASEAN. 

 

The APSC FFM is the first of three fact-finding missions from ASEAN to visit Timor-Leste. ASEAN will prepare a comprehensive assessment of Timor-Leste’s application for ASEAN membership upon the completion of all three fact finding missions. The ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) and ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Pillars plan to conduct their fact-finding missions next year. 

 

The APSC FFM, comprising senior officials from all ASEAN Member States, the Committee of Permanent Representatives (CPR), and the ASEAN Secretariat, was warmly received by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Timor-Leste. The APSC FFM paid courtesy calls on Timor-Leste’s President, Prime Minister, and Deputy President of the National Parliament and had substantive meetings with other leaders and political figures. Both sides exchanged views and discussed various issues such as Timor-Leste’s foreign policy, legal reforms, and national development strategy as well as the responsibilities of becoming a member of ASEAN under the APSC Pillar. During these meetings, Timor-Leste underlined their political commitment to become a member of ASEAN and willingness to carry out the obligations of ASEAN membership.

 

In addition, the APSC FFM also met with representatives of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Timor-Leste. The APSC FFM visit provided a unique opportunity for ASEAN to learn from first hand interaction with Timor-Leste and explore areas of potential cooperations to support Timor-Leste. 

 

Timor-Leste currently has diplomatic missions in all ASEAN Member States and is ready to open a permanent mission to ASEAN in Jakarta. Furthermore, Timor-Leste has participated in the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) since 2005 and became a High Contracting Party to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) in 2007.