(Dili): Samdech Techo Hun Sen, President of the Senate of Cambodia, has called on ASEAN leaders to grant Timor-Leste full membership status, asserting there is no valid reason to continue withholding its full integration into the regional bloc. He stressed that Timor-Leste deserves full membership rather than continued observer status.

The appeal was made on Thursday (May 8) during Samdech Techo Hun Sen’s keynote address on Cambodia–Timor-Leste relations at the National Parliament of Timor-Leste.

Samdech Techo stated: “I call on ASEAN leaders to allow Timor-Leste to become a full-fledged member. This is a geopolitical necessity, a necessity for regional integration, and a necessity for ASEAN’s role in unifying all countries in Southeast Asia.”

Samdech Techo added that, compared to Cambodia’s status when it joined ASEAN in 1999, Timor-Leste is in a significantly better position. At the time of Cambodia’s accession, its per capita income was only USD 281, whereas Timor-Leste today has a per capita income of USD 1,453.

On the occasion, Samdech Techo Hun Sen further asserted that in terms of social conditions and human resources, Timor-Leste surpasses Cambodia's 1999 situation, making any continued delay in its ASEAN membership unjustifiable.

“I am a living witness,” Samdech Techo said, “who led Cambodia through its initial entry into ASEAN. Back then, our GDP and per capita income were only USD 281. Now Timor-Leste is preparing to join with a per capita income of USD 1,453, according to World Bank statistics.”

He concluded by expressing hope that ASEAN leaders would support Timor-Leste’s bid for full membership, noting that the country has been waiting for more than 10 years since submitting its application.
=FRESH NEWS