The ASEAN Charter Comes into Force Today

A ceremony was held at the ASEAN Secretariat to welcome the entry into force of the ASEAN Charter today.

Presiding over the ceremony was H.E. Dr Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, President of the Republic of Indonesia. He was joined by H.E. Dr Mun Patanotai, Minister of Information and Communication Technology of Thailand representing the ASEAN Chair, the ASEAN Foreign Ministers, and Dr Surin Pitsuwan, Secretary-General of ASEAN.

In his remarks, Dr Surin said, "We at the ASEAN Secretariat pledge to protect and uphold this ASEAN Charter in letter and in spirit for the benefits of all the peoples of ASEAN." "From now on, ASEAN shall operate under the new legal framework laid down in the ASEAN Charter. Quite a few new institutions shall soon be established. The ASEAN Community that is being built will be more rules-based and more people-oriented," he added.

The ceremony to welcome the entry into force was witnessed by the ambassadors from ASEAN, ambassadors from ASEAN Dialogue Partners, the diplomatic corp in Indonesia, as well as representatives from regional and international organisations.
After the ceremony, the Special ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting or Inaugural Meeting of the ASEAN Coordinating Council was convened at the ASEAN Secretariat.

Source: ASEAN Secretariat