Statement by Dr. Mun Patanotai, Minister of Information and Communication Technology and Special Envoy of the Royal Thai Government,Chairman of ASEAN, to Welcome the Entry into Force of the ASEAN Charter ASEAN Secretariat, Jakarta 15 December 2008
Mr. President,
Ministers of ASEAN Member States,
Secretary-General,
Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Friends of ASEAN,
First of all, I wish to thank His Excellency the President of Indonesia for accepting the invitation to attend our gathering today and to honour us with his presence.
I also wish to thank the Secretary-General of ASEAN for his remarks and for providing the facilities for today’s activities.
More than four decades ago in Bangkok, ASEAN’s Founding Fathers inspired us all when they first coined the idea of a “community of Southeast Asian nations”.
ASEAN was created, renewing hopes for a region of peace and prosperity, at a time when the region was divided along ideological lines and in conflict.
Four decades now, we are witnessing general peace and stability, where all ten Southeast Asian countries are part of the same ASEAN family.
Today, we welcome the entry into force of a landmark document, the ASEAN Charter, at an institution that will play an important role in ASEAN’s future, the ASEAN Secretariat.
From a loose association of countries in the past, ASEAN is now a legal entity that aspires to become an ASEAN Community in the near future.
The Charter embodies the shared commitment of countries in Southeast Asia to an ASEAN Community that is rules-based, driven by institutions, and more importantly, places people at the heart of the organization.
It lays the foundation for the shaping and sharing of norms that will guide peaceful and mutually beneficial intra-regional relations.
It provides the framework for institution-driven regional policy rather than one based purely on national interests.
As Chair of ASEAN, Thailand thus places as a top priority the effective implementation of the Charter and the realization of our Community.
To this end, we hope to see next year the operationalization of the Community Councils and the Committee of Permanent Representatives, as well as the establishment of an ASEAN human rights body and dispute settlement mechanisms.
As Chair of ASEAN, Thailand stands ready to convene the 14th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Thailand to take forward the important Community-building process and to celebrate fully our Charter.
In this connection, we wish to thank our ASEAN colleagues for their understanding of the recent decision to re-schedule the Summit. Here, I am pleased to inform you that ASEAN has a tentative agreement for the Summits to take place before the end of February 2009.
Much work lies ahead of us. The building of an ASEAN Community is more than just implementing the Charter and building ASEAN institutions.
We need to make ASEAN more people-centered by bringing the benefits of community-building to the peoples of Southeast Asia. Whether it be reducing poverty, mitigating the impact of natural disasters or addressing transnational crime, ASEAN’s agenda needs to be a people-based agenda.
Closing development gaps needs to be continued to generate a level playing field within ASEAN itself and to ensure that the fruits of the Community reach all.
Engagement with civil society organizations, as called for by the Charter, needs to be strengthened and should be an important part of our agenda next year.
Ultimately, we need to build a greater sense of community across Southeast Asia across all sectors. For the Community to endure, ASEAN needs to become a household name.
In addition, as ASEAN pursues its community-building process, it must remain open and outward-looking.
Thus, while we draw strength from our diversity within the region, we must learn and benefit from interacting closely with our friends and partners outside.
ASEAN needs to continue to build bridges amongst peoples, economies and cultures beyond Southeast Asia.
Excellencies,
Time has taken its toll on more than one generation of architects of ASEAN, including just last week, a former Foreign Minister of Indonesia. Let us recognize and remember Pak Ali Alatas as a respected diplomat from our region and a strong supporter of ASEAN’s goals and aspirations.
Building on the legacies of those who forged the path before us, let us move forward together to realize a shared vision of an ASEAN Community for the peoples of Southeast Asia and of continued peace, prosperity and good neighbourliness for which ASEAN was founded.
Thank you very much for your attention.
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.