Bangkok - Asean secretary-general-designate Surin Pitsuwan has lauded Thailand and the rest of the region`s passage of the Asean Charter as a significant step which will help give the 40-year-old grouping a much-needed lift. ``But other challenges and collective obligations remain for the member states to develop the Asean community to another level by 2015 and steer the regional bloc to live up to the international community`s expectations,`` said Mr Surin, who is to take office on Jan 1.
The former foreign minister said that he was pleased with the direction that the Burma issue was taking.
He also said he hoped the National Legislative Assembly would give the nod to the Asean Economic Community Blueprint, one of two key documents the 10 Asean leaders are due to sign during the 13th Asean summit in Singapore later this month.
A special committee will study and present its opinions on the blueprint to the NLA on Wednesday.
``If there are any requirements for new laws or amendments to any of the present ones, or the holding of public hearings on the blueprint, we can do that later. It should be left to an elected parliament to decide how Thailand should cooperate with its Asean colleagues to achieve its economic goals in the next eight years,`` he said.
Source: www.bangkokpost.com (10 November 2007)
