Indonesia Supports Including Timor-Leste Into ASEAN

Denpasar (Antara Bali) - In keeping with its commitment to strengthen the regional community, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Marty Natalegawa, said Indonesia supports inclusion of Timor-Leste into ASEAN.

"Based on its geographic location and cultural affiliation, the people of Timor-Leste have a sense of belonging towards ASEAN. Therefore, Indonesia is eager to include the country as a member," Natalegawa stated during the closing ceremony of the Bali Media Forum (BMF) in Nusa Dua, Bali, on Thursday.

The minister pointed out that in the past, Indonesia had also supported inclusion of Laos and Myanmar into ASEAN.

"Indonesia does not want its neighboring countries left behind in the world community. We want to support countries where the economy and politics are yet to mature," he noted.

Natalegawa also highlighted that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and the Prime Minister of Timor-Leste, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao, had agreed to promote bilateral relations.

During his work visit to Dili in Timor-Leste, President Yudhoyono had reaffirmed Indonesia's commitment to increase cooperation between the two countries, as well as its support to include Timor-Leste into ASEAN.

"Indonesia is also working to intensify talks with the other nine ASEAN member states so that they too accept Timor-Leste as a member. Therefore, I feel the atmosphere among members is more fluid, even though there is a country that has yet to be accepted completely," the minister remarked.

As many as 90 media houses from 25 countries participated in the BMF.

The forum was organized by the Indonesian Press Council, the Ethical Journalism Network and the Norwegian Kingdom as part of the Bali Democracy Forum (BDF), which will be held in Nusa Dua in Bali on October 10 and 11.

The democracy forum will be jointly chaired by President Yudhoyono and the President of the Philippines, Y M Benigno Simeon Aquino III. As many as 85 countries will be participating in it. (WDY)