DILI (TOP) – Vice-Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister for Tourism and Environment, Francisco Kalbuadi Lay stated that, the intention of the Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão statements regarding the Myanmar case did not mean to prevent Timor-Leste from being a member of ASEAN, but to being a member of this region must also see the aspect of human rights.
“He has always struggled to defend human rights and democratic values. So I believe that the intention of his statement is not that we cannot be members of ASEAN but we also have to look at the human rights aspect," Deputy Prime Minister Francisco Kalbuadi Lay stated through a press conference at Farol-Dili, Tuesday 8 August 2023.
He added, Timor-Leste to become ASEAN all through collective consensus, mutual respect and no intervention.
The government of Timor-Leste is working hard to meet the requirements to quickly become a full member of ASEAN at some point.
"We really appreciate the centralization of ASEAN. ASEAN is also a very dynamic region compared to the European Union. Entering ASEAN members is clear and we will all try to prepare ourselves before entering as a full member of ASEAN.
