ASEAN chief calls on members to appoint permanent representatives

January 7, 2009 in Uncategorized

Jakarta (VNA) – Secretary General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Surin Pitsuwan has called upon member countries to appoint their permanent representatives to the bloc.

Speaking at a ceremony to receive Singapore’s Permanent Representative at the ASEAN Secretariat on Jan. 5, the ASEAN chief said: “We are pleased to receive Ambassador Lim Thuan Kuan… I hope that the rest of the member states will also appoint their Permanent Representatives to ASEAN very shortly.”

Singapore has become the first member state appointing Permanent Representative to ASEAN. The appointment of Ambassador Lim commenced with effect from January 2009.

According to the ASEAN Charter, which recently came into force on Dec. 15, 2008, each ASEAN member state shall appoint a Permanent Representative to ASEAN with the rank of Ambassador based in Jakarta.

The Permanent Representatives will collectively constitute the Committee of Permanent Representatives whose tasks include supporting the work of the ASEAN Community Councils, coordinating with ASEAN National Secretariats and other ASEAN Sectoral Ministerial Bodies, as well as liaising with the Secretary-General of ASEAN and the ASEAN Secretariat.-