Myanmar, Timor-Leste Move To Resolve Differences Ahead Of Accession -- ASEAN Sec-Gen

By Nurul Hanis Izmir

KUALA LUMPUR, July 11 (Bernama) -- Myanmar and Timor-Leste have begun engaging in discussions to resolve their differences, paving the way for Timor-Leste’s planned accession to ASEAN in October this year, ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn said.

In a media interview on the sidelines of the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) and related meetings here, Kao noted the progress and expressed confidence that the matter would not obstruct the accession process.

“Myanmar and Timor-Leste have been sitting down together, and I believe they are sorting out their differences. So, on that front, there has been positive development. I don’t foresee any problem for the upcoming accession by Timor-Leste in October,” he said.

It was reported that Timor-Leste had on July 7 dismissed Myanmar’s objection to it becoming the 11th member of ASEAN as “inconsequential and irrelevant.”

This followed a letter sent by Myanmar to ASEAN which formally objected to Timor-Leste’s accession to the Southeast Asian regional bloc, accusing Dili of violating the bloc’s core principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other nations.

The letter, signed by junta official Han Win Aung, further stated that if Timor-Leste continues its “blatant violations” of this principle, ASEAN must “firmly reject any consideration of granting membership” to the country.

On a related development, Kao reaffirmed that Timor-Leste is making steady progress toward full membership, having fulfilled several key institutional and legal obligations under its membership roadmap.

“Timor-Leste has already established embassies in all ASEAN member states, and it has set up a permanent mission to ASEAN, which has been fully operational since 2023,” he said.

ASEAN, for its part, has established a dedicated Timor-Leste Unit within the ASEAN Secretariat, which has been operational since May this year to support the country’s integration efforts.

He added that although the fulfilment of membership requirements will not stop after accession, the minimum criteria have largely been met, including strengthening the country’s capacity to align with ASEAN processes and frameworks.

“There’s still a lot of work to be done because ASEAN today is very different from ASEAN 20 years ago, but the basics are in place,” Kao noted.

Meanwhile, when asked about Myanmar’s continued non-compliance with the Five-Point Consensus, Kao reiterated that ASEAN remains committed to constructive engagement and that Myanmar continues to be a full member of the bloc.

“This year, under Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship, we have seen very active efforts building on what the previous chairs have done. For the first time, the ASEAN Chair has brought both sides to sit down together,” he said.

He confirmed that four ASEAN foreign ministers, led by the Chair, will be travelling to Myanmar soon as part of the bloc’s ongoing engagement strategy.

“This was something agreed upon by the foreign ministers. I think it marks a significant step in ASEAN’s continued efforts to address the Myanmar issue constructively,” he added.

Myanmar, which has been barred from high-level ASEAN meetings since the 2021 military coup, currently holds limited influence within the organisation.

-- BERNAMA