KUALA LUMPUR: Tears, cheers and applause filled the International Media Centre at the 47th Asean Summit and Related Summits as Timor Leste took its place in the Asean family.
Describing it as a dream more than a decade in the making, Timor Leste delegates say it is not just a diplomatic milestone but a deeply emotional moment.
Francisca Maia, part of the Timor Leste delegation, said the journey is not over.
“We celebrate but this is not the end. There is still a lot of work ahead of us to fulfil,”
Timor Leste is ready for that,” she said when met at the International Media Centre on Sunday (October 26).
A teary Francisca said it was even more meaningful to see Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao and President José Manuel Ramos-Horta on stage.
ALSO READ: Timor Leste joins Asean as 11th member
“They were our founding fathers, who fought for independence and to be a part of Asean,” she said.
“To see them making it happen is an extremely emotional moment and reflects our resilience. We know there is a lot of work ahead, but we are ready,” she said.
Journalist Remizia Boavida said it was an extremely proud moment for the country to finally become an Asean member.
“We have been working towards this for a very long time and finally we are part of it.
It is such an emotional moment. Thank you Malaysia and thank you Asean,” said a tearful Remizia.
Domingos Tilman, media adviser to the Timor Leste president, said the country has been working extremely hard to achieve this.
“Now it is a reality,” he said.
“It is such a proud and emotional moment for us all,” he added.
Antonio Guterres, attached to the Timor Leste Foreign Ministry, said being a full Asean member was an extremely proud moment.
“For 13 years, we have been working hard and submitting the necessary documents,” he said.
“We are so happy that Asean has agreed to accept us as a member,” he added.
“The tears could not stop flowing,” he said.
“After 13 years, our dream has finally become a reality,” he added.
History is made on Sunday as Timor Leste is admitted as Asean’s 11th member with the signing of the admission declaration.
The landmark ceremony, chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as Asean chair, marks a defining moment in the region’s community building.
