Asean members supportive of Timor-Leste's participation

S’pore committed to helping it build capacity to fulfil obligations and fully join bloc: Vivian

- Hariz Baharudin

JAKARTA Asean members are supportive of observer Timor-Leste’s participation in the bloc, but full membership comes with heavy responsibilities and obligations that can bea steep hill to climb, said Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan.He also underscored Singapore’s full support in helping the country build capacity to fulfil its obligations and responsibilities and fully join Asean.

Timor-Leste made its debut as an observer on Friday and Saturday, attending the first Asean Ministers’ Meeting under Indonesia’s chairmanship of the bloc.

Speaking to reporters at the close of the meeting in Jakarta on Saturday, Dr Balakrishnan said Timor-

Leste’s presence at the meetings was important, and that all the Asean members there were supportive of its full participation.