Timor-Leste President pledges ASEAN support for Rohingya crisis solution: Chief Adviser

Timor-Leste President José Ramos-Horta has promised Bangladesh‍‍`s interim government that he will work towards gaining ASEAN’s support for the safe return of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar.

“His Excellency has assured us, as an ASEAN member, that he will do his best to ensure that ASEAN backs us on the Rohingya issue,” Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus said during a joint press conference at his office on Sunday. This followed a bilateral meeting with President Ramos-Horta, who is currently on an official visit to Bangladesh.

Dr. Yunus added that they had a detailed discussion on how to influence international opinion in favor of Rohingya repatriation. "We discussed how to shift global opinion towards returning Rohingyas from Bangladesh to Myanmar,” he noted.

The Chief Adviser expressed his confidence that President Ramos-Horta would be a valuable ally for Bangladesh in resolving the crisis. He also highlighted that Timor-Leste is set to join the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) soon, which could help further in gaining regional support.

Read More: Timor-Leste President Ramos-Horta in Bangladesh: Key talks with Chief Adviser Yunus today

Earlier, Dr. Yunus and President Ramos-Horta held what were described as "fruitful discussions," with both leaders sharing their vision for strengthening ties between the two countries. They also witnessed the signing of two agreements – one establishing a bilateral consultation mechanism and the other providing visa exemptions for diplomatic and official passport holders, aimed at boosting cooperation.

The two leaders had a one-on-one meeting, followed by a delegation-level discussion. Earlier in the day, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain had met with President Ramos-Horta to discuss shared interests.

President Ramos-Horta received a warm welcome on his arrival in Bangladesh on Saturday night for a four-day official visit. Chief Adviser Yunus personally greeted him at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at around 10:40 p.m., where a red carpet reception awaited the Timor-Leste leader.