ASEAN CHARTER TO SPEED UP REGION'S ECONOMIC INTEGRATION

Jakarta, Dec. 15 (ANTARA) - ASEAN Secretary General Dr Surin Pitsuwan said regional cooperation and economic integration to build the ASEAN Community will shift into higher gear after the entry into force of the ASEAN Charter.
"In spite of the political setback in Thailand - which is now the ASEAN Chair country, I believe ASEAN will not and cannot be slowed down," Pitsuwan said in his welcome remarks at a ceremony marking the promulgation of the ASEAN Charter at the ASEAN Secretariat here on Monday.
The ceremony was attended among others by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Thailand's Minister of Information and Communication Technology Dr. Man Patanotai, ASEAN member countries' representatives, and ASEAN foreign affairs ministers.
During the ceremony, the audience observed a few moments of silence in remembrance of the late Ali Alatas, a former Indonesian foreign affairs minister, who died last week at 76.
"Pak Ali Alatas, as we all know, was a loyal ASEAN stalwart; a true believer in regional cooperation of ASEAN; a brilliant architect of ASEAN's external engagements; and one of the greatest gentleman-diplomats of not only Indonesia but of the developing world," Pitsuwan said.
Ali Alatas had represented Indonesia on an Eminent Persons Group set up in 2006 to explore the future directions of ASEAN and advised ASEAN Leaders on what they should do, what should be put into the ASEAN Charter.
"The ASEAN Charter contains many key initiatives put forth by the Eminent Persons Group, which benefited greatly from Pak Ali Alatas's insights. ASEAN shall always remember the invaluable contribution of Pak Ali Alatas," the ASEAN Secretary General said.
He also explained that at first, ASEAN Leaders planned to celebrate the entry into force of the ASEAN Charter when they meet in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand, for the 14th ASEAN Summit from 15-18 December.But the Summit had to be postponed because of the political instability in Thailand.
Meanwhile, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in his address on the occasion said the ASEAN Charter was a document that would enable South East Asia to face various global challenges in the future with greater unity.
"With the ASEAN Charter, we are more bound than ever before to bridge differences among ourselves in more friendly ways," President Yudhoyono said in his address at a ceremony marking the promulgation of the ASEAN Charter at the ASEAN Secretariat here on Monday.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) groups Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines, Laos, and Vietnam.
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