Timor-Leste president talks about nation's ASEAN entry, political stability

Key Concepts

• ASEAN membership and Timor-Leste's contributions
• Political stability and conflict prevention
• Border disputes and maritime boundaries
• Demilitarization of the South China Sea
• Hosting the ASEAN summit
• Timor-Leste's ASEAN bid and symbolic representation

ASEAN Membership and Timor-Leste's Contributions

Timor-Leste's absolute priority upon joining ASEAN is to maintain peace, law and order, public security, and governmental stability. The country aims to avoid becoming an additional burden or headache for ASEAN. Timor-Leste hopes to contribute to strengthening ASEAN mechanisms, particularly in conflict prevention, emphasizing dialogue within ASEAN member states.

Political Stability and Conflict Prevention

While Timor-Leste currently enjoys political stability, the President acknowledges that this cannot be taken for granted, given the country's history of conflict and frequent changes in government since independence. He emphasizes the importance of quickly containing any potential violence. He references the 2006 security breakdown as an example. The President states that if Timor-Leste is unsure about containing violence, they will ask for help from friends, prioritizing the safety and tranquility of the people over national pride.

Areas for ASEAN Improvement

The President suggests that ASEAN should encourage dialogue and conflict prevention in ongoing border disputes, both within ASEAN member states and between ASEAN countries and others, such as in the South China Sea situation.

Demilitarization of the South China Sea

The President proposes demilitarizing the South China Sea, declaring it a "sea of peace and human fraternity." He acknowledges that overlapping claims are unlikely to be fully resolved to the satisfaction of all claimant states. The focus should be on celebrating the sea as a zone of peace.

Border Disputes and Maritime Boundaries

Timor-Leste is currently negotiating maritime boundaries with Indonesia and has a small piece of land on the border that remains to be settled. The President expresses confidence that Prime Minister Shaana and President Brau will resolve the land boundary issue quickly. He does not anticipate any major disagreement.

Hosting the ASEAN Summit

The President acknowledges that Timor-Leste currently lacks the logistics and infrastructure to host the ASEAN summit. However, he suggests creative solutions, such as accommodating heads of state in luxurious hotels on the Indonesian island of Sumba (Nihi). He believes Timor-Leste could be ready to host the summit by 2029, which would align with the alphabetical order of hosting duties.

Timor-Leste's ASEAN Bid and Symbolic Representation

The President has played a key role in Timor-Leste's ASEAN bid. He will attend the historic event in Kuala Lumpur in October, at the invitation of his friend, Prime Minister Anoir Ibrahim. While he typically avoids traveling abroad while the Prime Minister is also out of the country, he considers this occasion special. He prefers that Prime Minister Shannan deliver Timor-Leste's national statement, emphasizing the symbolic importance of the event.

Key Quotes

• "Above all my obligation is to ensure the safety tranquility of the people not my pride."
• "...declare it a sea of peace and human fraternity and then we work how to celebrate that sea uh as a sea of peace."

Conclusion

Timor-Leste's approach to ASEAN membership is characterized by a commitment to internal stability, a proactive stance on conflict prevention, and a willingness to contribute to regional peace and security. While challenges remain, particularly in infrastructure development and border dispute resolution, the country is actively pursuing solutions and demonstrating a strong commitment to its role within ASEAN.