Asia-Pacific News
Indonesia backs East Timor's bid to join ASEAN
Jan 16, 2011, 7:41 GMT
Jakarta - Indonesia said Sunday tdhat it would support East Timor's bid to join the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
'Right now ASEAN has 10 members and we have heard that Timor Leste (East Timor) wishes to join and we openly support it,' Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa was quoted as saying by the state-run Antara news agency.
The tiny state with a population of 1 million was occupied by Indonesia from 1975-99 and suffered a rampage by pro-Indonesia militias after a referendum on its independence.
The regional bloc's foreign ministers met in Indonesia on the weekend to discuss the ASEAN community and its role in a global context.
ASEAN comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam.
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