CANADA APPOINTS AMBASSADOR TO ASEAN

JAKARTA, Feb 17 (Bernama) -- Canada, which has established dialogue relations with ASEAN since 1977, has appointed John T. Holmes as its first ambassador to the association.

Welcoming the appointment, ASEAN secretary-general Dr Surin Pitsuwan
said, he believed ASEAN-Canada relations would be further enhanced and
cooperation intensified in the political and security, economic and
socio-cultural fields.

In August 2007, ASEAN and Canada adopted the ASEAN-Canada Joint Cooperation
Work Plan 2007-2010, which provides a framework for comprehensive cooperation
in various areas, including counter-terrorism and transnational crime, according
to a statement from the Jakarta-based ASEAN Secretariat Monday.

Holmes is currently Canadian Ambassador to Indonesia, with concurrent
accreditation to Timor Leste.

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

So far, 13 countries and the European Commission have appointed their
ambassadors to ASEAN, and the number is expected to grow since all 27 member
states of the European Union are expected to appoint their ambassadors to
ASEAN.

"This is a demonstration of the confidence that the international community
has in ASEAN and recognition of the growing importance of ASEAN as we intensify
our community building efforts," Dr Surin said in the statement.
-- BERNAMA