50 Years of ASEAN Feted in Timor-Leste
The ambassadors of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand and the Chargé d’Affaires,a.i., of the Philippines pose for a photo with the Timorese Vice Minister of Foreign of Foreign Affairs Roberto Sarmento de Oliveira Soares (3rd from left).
11 August 2017 DILI, TIMOR-LESTE – The 50th anniversary of the founding of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was celebrated at the grounds of the Philippine Embassy in Dili, Timor-Leste on 08 August 2017
The event was attended by the members of the diplomatic corps, media, various Timorese officials and the members of the communities of the ASEAN member countries present in Dili, namely, Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand.
As chair of the ASEAN in 2017, the Philippine Embassy hosted the commemorative event.
The ceremony was kicked off by the raising of the flags of Timor-Leste and ASEAN. The rendering the anthems of Timor-Leste and ASEAN was conducted by with Hossana Choir, composed of Timorese and Indonesian nationals.
H.E. Chitra Devi Ramiah, ambassador of Malaysia and dean of the chiefs of mission of ASEAN embassies in Dili, delivered the welcome remarks. She noted: “As we celebrate this Golden Jubilee, we are cognizant of the fact that the proclamation of the ASEAN Declaration in 1967 to bind the nations of Southeast Asia together in friendship and cooperation has come true.”
Ambassador Ramiah further averred: “When ASEAN was first established in 1967, many doubted that we would survive as we were built on diversity in terms of political system, economic growth, geographical size and religion. However, ASEAN has proven the cynics wrong. ASEAN has managed to turn its diversity into an asset.”
For his part, Timorese Foreign Affairs Vice-Minister Roberto Sarmento de Oliveira Soares, the guest of honor, reminisced that it was on 08 August 2012 when he was tasked by the government of Timor-Leste to prepare for the country’s application for membership into ASEAN.
Vice-Minister Soares noted: “Timor-Leste, the only Southeast Asian nation that is still not part of the ASEAN family, reiterates its wish to fulfill the requirements for membership set by ASEAN Charter. I firmly believe that the incoming government will continue to support our aim of joining the ASEAN family soon.”
After the program, the guests were treated to a sumptuous feast of traditional food prepared by the participating ASEAN embassies as well as a medley of songs from Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand rendred by Hossana Choir.
For more information, visit www.dilipe.dfa.gov.ph. END