Your Excellency Admiral Mom Luang Usni Pramoj,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
This is an historic evening, for it is here that the ASEAN Anthem will be performed for the first time ever. It is, therefore, a great privilege and an honour for me to officiate over the Concert to launch the ASEAN Anthem.
The development of an ASEAN Anthem cannot come at a more exciting and critical time in ASEAN’s history. Last year in Singapore, ASEAN Leaders agreed to the ASEAN Charter. And it is expected to enter into force at the 14th ASEAN Summit in Chiang Mai next month. The Charter will lay down the legal and institutional framework for ASEAN’s continuing development and work, in particular its efforts to establish an ASEAN Community by 2015 with the ASEAN peoples at its centre.
And to help create a sense of belonging to one community, as well as an ASEAN identity among the peoples of the region, ASEAN Leaders looked to the power of music. As stipulated in Article 40 of the ASEAN Charter, “ASEAN shall have an anthem.” This is recognition of the intrinsic value of music, which knows no boundary, no race, no religion. Music is made up of different elements called notes which, when combined, result in a harmonious whole — just like the ASEAN Community that we are nurturing.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
With the ASEAN Chairmanship returning to Thailand this year, Thailand is deeply honoured and proud to have been entrusted by our ASEAN colleagues to host the competition to select the ASEAN Anthem. We believe that the development of the ASEAN Anthem reflects Thailand’s emphasis and commitment to enhancing people’s participation and people-centered development during our ASEAN Chairmanship. That is why we proudly chose as our motto for the 14th ASEAN Summit “ASEAN Charter for ASEAN Peoples.”
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We hope that the ASEAN Anthem as well as popular songs from each ASEAN Member Country to be performed tonight will serve to bind the hearts of our peoples in this region together in the spirit of unity, solidarity and cooperation for many, many years to come.
I hope all of you will enjoy the performance tonight.
Thank you.
Prime Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Press Division, Department of Information Tel.(02) 643-5170
Fax. (02) 643-5169 E-mail : div0704@mfa.go.th End.