Newly appointed secretary General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Surin Pitsuwan addresses a press conference after a ceremony in Jakarta. Thailand's former foreign minister Surin Pitsuwan was formally appointed as new secretary general of the ASEAN which groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. (AFP/Ahmad Zamroni)01/07/08
TNA (Thailand)
Former Thai foreign minister Surin Pitsuwan formally took up the post of ASEAN ''Association of Southeast Asian Nations'' secretary general at the regional organisation's headquarters in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The ceremony was done simply with Indonesian Foreign Minister Hasan Wirayuda chaired the ceremony, attended by all ASEAN ambassadors as well as 200 ambassadors, diplomats and Indonesian government guests.
The ceremony began with outgoing ASEAN chief Ong Keng Yong of Singapore signing the document to transfer the post to incoming ASEAN secretary-general Surin, who then endorses the document to acknowledge formally taking up the post.
Mr. Wirayuda witnessed the uncomplicated procedure.
Dr. Surin, a former member of the Democrat Party, Thailand's oldest political party, became the second Thai citizen assume the ASEAN secretary-general post. Phan Wannamethee, currently secretary-general of the Thai Red Cross Society and former Permanent Secretary of Thailand's Foreign Ministry.
But Dr. Surin is the first Thai political figure to hold the ASEAN secretary-general post.
Speaking as he took up the post, Dr. Surin said he wanted to carry on the aspirations of ASEAN when the organisation, established 40 years ago, to make ASEAN a unified and strong community bringing security and peace to the region.
He said he wished to see all member countries walk hand in hand together. However, Mr. Surin said he could not accomplish the mission alone and needed the participation of all member. He hoped that he will receive good results and full support for ASEAN's progress.
After the ceremony, Singapore ASEAN Department Director-General Jacky Foo presented the island's instrument of ratification of the Asean Charter to Dr. Surin.
ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
The ceremony was done simply with Indonesian Foreign Minister Hasan Wirayuda chaired the ceremony, attended by all ASEAN ambassadors as well as 200 ambassadors, diplomats and Indonesian government guests.
The ceremony began with outgoing ASEAN chief Ong Keng Yong of Singapore signing the document to transfer the post to incoming ASEAN secretary-general Surin, who then endorses the document to acknowledge formally taking up the post.
Mr. Wirayuda witnessed the uncomplicated procedure.
Dr. Surin, a former member of the Democrat Party, Thailand's oldest political party, became the second Thai citizen assume the ASEAN secretary-general post. Phan Wannamethee, currently secretary-general of the Thai Red Cross Society and former Permanent Secretary of Thailand's Foreign Ministry.
But Dr. Surin is the first Thai political figure to hold the ASEAN secretary-general post.
Speaking as he took up the post, Dr. Surin said he wanted to carry on the aspirations of ASEAN when the organisation, established 40 years ago, to make ASEAN a unified and strong community bringing security and peace to the region.
He said he wished to see all member countries walk hand in hand together. However, Mr. Surin said he could not accomplish the mission alone and needed the participation of all member. He hoped that he will receive good results and full support for ASEAN's progress.
After the ceremony, Singapore ASEAN Department Director-General Jacky Foo presented the island's instrument of ratification of the Asean Charter to Dr. Surin.
ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
1 comment:
This former thai foreigh Affai Minister is young compared to our Ministers.
it means thailand has appointed young intellectuals at the top post of the government.
It's different from Cambodia where Ministers, MP, senators are the same "HEADS' since 1979.
Post a Comment