Accepted To Be A Citizen Of ASEAN, Timor Leste Gives Love To Indonesia

JAKARTA - The Prime Minister (PM) of Timor Leste Taur Matan Ruak expressed his gratitude to President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) for the acceptance of Timor Leste in principle as a member of ASEAN.

"I would also like to thank you that Timor Leste has become a member of the observer (observer) in ASEAN, and also for the support and assistance from Mr. His Majesty the President," said PM Taur Matan Ruak in a press statement with President Jokowi, quoted from a statement from the Press, Media, and Information Bureau of the Presidential Secretariat Monday, February 13, was confiscated by Antara.

PM Matan Ruak said he would prepare and complete a roadmap to become a full ASEAN member.

"Basically Timor Leste completes the roadmap (road map) to be able to prepare better to enter ASEAN," he said, quoted by Antara.

President Jokowi on Monday held a bilateral meeting with PM Matan Ruak at the Bogor Presidential Palace. After the meeting of the two leaders, President Jokowi said that based on the results of the ASEAN Summit at Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Timor Leste had been principled to be accepted as a member of ASEAN.

"Timor Leste has in principle been accepted as a member of ASEAN. The roadmap for full membership is being prepared to be led by Indonesia as the current Chair of ASEAN," said the President.

Furthermore, in this meeting on Monday, President Jokowi emphasized the importance of increasing economic cooperation between the two countries, including by developing economic zones in the border areas of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), Indonesia and Oecusse, Timor Leste.

The President said that one of the efforts to develop economic zones in the region was through the establishment of a bilateral investment agreement.

Regarding the management of border areas, President Jokowi said that Indonesia and Timor Leste agreed to complete two land border segments to be able to start maritime negotiations and build cross-border posts (PLBN).

"We have agreed to immediately complete the remaining two land border segments this year, namely the Noel Besi-Citrana segment and the Bidjael Sunan-Oben segment. The completion of these land border negotiations is important to be able to start maritime negotiations and encourage the construction of PLBN in Oepoli," said the President.

Jokowi also said that Indonesia is committed to continuing development cooperation, especially through increasing human resource capacity with Timor Leste.

"Since 2006 there have been 258 cooperation activities for Indonesia's development with Timor-Leste involving thousands of Timor-Leste participants, and in the last two years, Indonesia has also provided 489 scholarships for Timor-Leste students," said President Jokowi.