BANGKOK, Nov 14 (Bernama): Thailand is ready to provide support to Timor Leste for its full Asean membership.
Acting Government spokesperson Anucha Burapachaisri said an objective criteria-based Roadmap for Timor-Leste's full membership would be formalised.
It said all Asean member states and external partners would fully support Timor Leste to achieve the milestones through the provision of capacity building assistance and any other necessary and relevant support for its full membership in Asean.
"Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha is pleased to facilitate admission of Timor-Leste as the 11th member of Asean,” he said.
On Nov 11, Asean had agreed in principle to admit Timor-Leste as the group's 11th member.
The Asean leaders, gathered at the 40th and 41st Asean Summits and Related Summits in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, last week said Timor-Leste would also be granted observer status to participate in all Asean Meetings including at the Summit plenaries.
"The leaders agreed to formalise an objective criteria-based Roadmap for Timor-Leste's full membership including based on the milestones identified in the reports of the Fact-Finding Missions and report to the 42nd Asean Summit for adoption," it said.
Asean was formed by five member states - Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines - in 1967.
Brunei joined in 1984, followed by Vietnam in 1985, and Myanmar and Laos in 1997. Cambodia, was the last country to join Asean, in 1999. - Bernama
