Dina Indrasafitri - The Jakarta Post – 07 may 2011
Indonesian efforts to push for the immediate inclusion of Timor Leste into ASEAN has hit a wall as the grouping’s meeting of foreign ministers on Friday failed to reach a consensus.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said after the meeting that there was an agreement to escalate the matter to the ASEAN heads of state.
He said the matter was not discussed “in detail but merely in a procedural manner”.
Marty’s tone following the meeting contrasted with his statements earlier that “Indonesia believes Timor Leste should become a member now”.
Dili’s application, lodged in March, was circulated by Indonesia to the nine other ASEAN member states, recommending the matter be given “urgent attention”.
However, there are reports Singapore is opposed to the proposal although Indonesian Foreign Ministry Director General for ASEAN Cooperation Djauhari Oratmangun said most ASEAN member states supported the idea.
However, under ASEAN’s decision-making structure, a proposal has to have unanimous support.
“I doubt we can accept Timor Leste [into ASEAN] this year,” Djauhari said.
While various reason have been stated for not admitting Timor Leste, the main concern is that the newly independent state remains too weak to contribute to ASEAN community building, while possibly widening the gap among ASEAN countries and stalling the vision of an integrated ASEAN by 2015.
The development gap among ASEAN member states would worsen if Timor Leste joins the grouping, experts claim.
Gadjah Mada University regional economic scholar Mudrajad Kuncoro said Thursday that a wide developmental gap already existed among member states, irrespective of the presence of Timor Leste.
There are also reports the newer ASEAN members have reservations about including Timor Leste.
Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar are reported to be worried about the likely diversion of aid if Timor Leste joins, while Vietnam is said to believe that an ASEAN weakened or made irrelevant by the inclusion of a country viewed as being on the brink of instability would mean the region by default would be drawn into China’s sphere of influence.
Ranked 162nd on the UN Development Programme’s 2009 Human Development Index, Timor Leste requires massive assistance.
Marty earlier said the issue of preparedness was relative. “You don’t want to be overly perfect because in then we will not get things done, instead we look at the big picture. Look at the map of Southeast Asia, all 10 ASEAN member countries and Timor Leste.”
He said Timor Leste was geographically part of Southeast Asia.
“If some countries say Timor Leste is not ready economically, they are not there yet, what do they want? Do you want to have a family where everyone is prosperous and someone is looking in from the outside? That’s not a real family.
“The more they’re in need of engagement, the more they should be in the room. So we can build things together, in the sense of ownership and participation. No one is made any weaker because of it,” Marty said.
He said the economies of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam were also at different levels of development compared to original ASEAN member states, but they had been accepted into the grouping.
“Because they were not ready, we needed them on board so we could grow together. This is a necessary discussion. Indonesia is very strong support of Timor Leste’s admission. Of course it will take time, I don’t know whether it can be done this year, but the discussion continues.”
Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said after the meeting that there was an agreement to escalate the matter to the ASEAN heads of state.
He said the matter was not discussed “in detail but merely in a procedural manner”.
Marty’s tone following the meeting contrasted with his statements earlier that “Indonesia believes Timor Leste should become a member now”.
Dili’s application, lodged in March, was circulated by Indonesia to the nine other ASEAN member states, recommending the matter be given “urgent attention”.
However, there are reports Singapore is opposed to the proposal although Indonesian Foreign Ministry Director General for ASEAN Cooperation Djauhari Oratmangun said most ASEAN member states supported the idea.
However, under ASEAN’s decision-making structure, a proposal has to have unanimous support.
“I doubt we can accept Timor Leste [into ASEAN] this year,” Djauhari said.
While various reason have been stated for not admitting Timor Leste, the main concern is that the newly independent state remains too weak to contribute to ASEAN community building, while possibly widening the gap among ASEAN countries and stalling the vision of an integrated ASEAN by 2015.
The development gap among ASEAN member states would worsen if Timor Leste joins the grouping, experts claim.
Gadjah Mada University regional economic scholar Mudrajad Kuncoro said Thursday that a wide developmental gap already existed among member states, irrespective of the presence of Timor Leste.
There are also reports the newer ASEAN members have reservations about including Timor Leste.
Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar are reported to be worried about the likely diversion of aid if Timor Leste joins, while Vietnam is said to believe that an ASEAN weakened or made irrelevant by the inclusion of a country viewed as being on the brink of instability would mean the region by default would be drawn into China’s sphere of influence.
Ranked 162nd on the UN Development Programme’s 2009 Human Development Index, Timor Leste requires massive assistance.
Marty earlier said the issue of preparedness was relative. “You don’t want to be overly perfect because in then we will not get things done, instead we look at the big picture. Look at the map of Southeast Asia, all 10 ASEAN member countries and Timor Leste.”
He said Timor Leste was geographically part of Southeast Asia.
“If some countries say Timor Leste is not ready economically, they are not there yet, what do they want? Do you want to have a family where everyone is prosperous and someone is looking in from the outside? That’s not a real family.
“The more they’re in need of engagement, the more they should be in the room. So we can build things together, in the sense of ownership and participation. No one is made any weaker because of it,” Marty said.
He said the economies of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam were also at different levels of development compared to original ASEAN member states, but they had been accepted into the grouping.
“Because they were not ready, we needed them on board so we could grow together. This is a necessary discussion. Indonesia is very strong support of Timor Leste’s admission. Of course it will take time, I don’t know whether it can be done this year, but the discussion continues.”
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