[UPDATED] Timor-Leste's Asean entry gets full support from regional leaders

New Straits Times

26-05-2025

KUALA LUMPUR: All Asean leaders are in support of Timor-Leste's accession to the regional bloc, says its Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão.
Speaking to the media at the 46th Asean Summit, he expressed confidence that his country would be able to meet all the necessary criteria under the Asean legal framework.
"We will try our best. We've already fulfilled many of the criteria, but there are still one, two, or three remaining. We will complete them before the end of the year," he said.
When asked whether he was confident about meeting the requirements by October, the outgoing leader responded enthusiastically, "Yes!"
"Because everyone supports us — everybody. It's incredible.
"You know why? Because we are a small country, standing alone there," he added.
Yesterday, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said Timor-Leste must work "doubly hard" to secure full Asean membership, including adopting the necessary guidelines under the Asean Foreign Ministers' (AFM) framework related to Asean's legal instruments.
While the regional bloc is eager to assist Timor-Leste, Mohamad said that the country must also demonstrate its own commitment.
He said that Malaysia, as this year's Asean chair, had proposed that Timor-Leste be admitted as the bloc's newest member despite not having fulfilled all 84 legal instruments required.
Mohamad added that Malaysia viewed Timor-Leste's inclusion as significant and believes the country should be given several years to fully comply with the legal obligations for membership.