UNITED KINGDOM APPOINTS AMBASSADOR TO ASEAN

By Mohd Nasir Yusoff

JAKARTA, Jan 21 (Bernama) -- The United Kingdom (UK) has appointed Martin
Hatfull as its first ambassador to ASEAN, making it the first among European
Union countries.

In welcoming the appointment, ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Surin Pitsuwan
thanked the UK for its significant gesture which underscored the importance the
UK attached to ASEAN.

"We look forward to working with Ambassador Hatfull to build closer ties
bilaterally and further strengthen our relationship with the European Union,
which the UK is a member of," Surin said in a statement here Tuesday.

Since 1972, the European Union had established dialogue relations with
ASEAN.

Hatfull is concurrently UK Ambassador to Indonesia.

Under the ASEAN Charter, non-ASEAN Member States and relevant
inter-governmental organisations may appoint ambassadors to ASEAN.
-- BERNAMA