ID :
13745
Fri, 07/25/2008 - 11:56
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/13745
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Australia, NZ confirm they will appoint ambassadors to ASEAN
SYDNEY, July 2 Kyodo - Australia and New Zealand announced Thursday they plan to appoint their first ambassadors to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith, in a statement, said the appointment will allow Australia, an ASEAN dialogue partner since 1974, to better facilitate cooperation and coordination with the 10-member regional body.
''The decision to appoint an ambassador to ASEAN underscores the importance Australia attaches to ASEAN and our desire to extend Australia's engagement and cooperation with ASEAN and its member nations,'' Smith said from Singapore, where he attending an annual series of ASEAN-hosted meetings.
He said Australia's ASEAN ambassador would be a Canberra-based officer from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, who would regularly attend meetings at Jakarta-based ASEAN Secretariat.
New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said in a separate statement that its own ASEAN ambassador will likely be its ambassador to Indonesia, who would serve both roles concurrently.
''Accreditation of a New Zealand ambassador to ASEAN will be concrete evidence of our support for the organization,'' Peters said from Singapore. ''It will also facilitate discussion with the (ASEAN) Secretariat on projects of cooperation.''New Zealand has been an ASEAN dialogue partner since 1975.
ASEAN comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Its dialogue partners include the United States, the European Union, China, Russia, India, Japan, Canada and South Korea.
The ability of dialogue partners to appoint ambassadors to ASEAN is an element of the new ASEAN Charter, expected to be ratified by all members by the end of the year.
Peters noted the charter will give ASEAN ''a legal personality -- much like the United Nations -- along with a more efficient structure.''In April, the United States became the first ASEAN dialogue partner to appoint an ambassador to ASEAN. China, Japan and Russia have also indicated they will follow suit.
Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith, in a statement, said the appointment will allow Australia, an ASEAN dialogue partner since 1974, to better facilitate cooperation and coordination with the 10-member regional body.
''The decision to appoint an ambassador to ASEAN underscores the importance Australia attaches to ASEAN and our desire to extend Australia's engagement and cooperation with ASEAN and its member nations,'' Smith said from Singapore, where he attending an annual series of ASEAN-hosted meetings.
He said Australia's ASEAN ambassador would be a Canberra-based officer from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, who would regularly attend meetings at Jakarta-based ASEAN Secretariat.
New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said in a separate statement that its own ASEAN ambassador will likely be its ambassador to Indonesia, who would serve both roles concurrently.
''Accreditation of a New Zealand ambassador to ASEAN will be concrete evidence of our support for the organization,'' Peters said from Singapore. ''It will also facilitate discussion with the (ASEAN) Secretariat on projects of cooperation.''New Zealand has been an ASEAN dialogue partner since 1975.
ASEAN comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Its dialogue partners include the United States, the European Union, China, Russia, India, Japan, Canada and South Korea.
The ability of dialogue partners to appoint ambassadors to ASEAN is an element of the new ASEAN Charter, expected to be ratified by all members by the end of the year.
Peters noted the charter will give ASEAN ''a legal personality -- much like the United Nations -- along with a more efficient structure.''In April, the United States became the first ASEAN dialogue partner to appoint an ambassador to ASEAN. China, Japan and Russia have also indicated they will follow suit.
