ASEAN SEC-GEN TO DISCUSS REGION'S DEVELOPMENT WITH CLINTON

JAKARTA, Feb 17 (Bernama) -- Developments in Asean, including the entry into
force of the Asean Charter and Asean's community-building efforts are among
several topics to be discussed by the regional grouping's Secretary-General, Dr
Surin Pitsuwan, and visiting US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Clinton is scheduled to visit the Asean headquarters here Wednesday, the
first US Secretary of State to do so.

"We are very pleased to welcome Secretary Clinton to Asean and to the Asean
secretariat," he said in a statement, adding that her taking the time off from
her busy schedule to include a visit to the Asean headquarters would be well
noticed by this region.

"The US is a good friend of Asean and wants to see Asean succeed," he said
and added that the US was the first Asean dialogue partner to appoint an
mmbassador to Asean.

Meanwhile Indonesia's National Police Chief Gen Bambang Hendarso Danuri was
quoted by Antara news agency as saying that security would be tightened in
accordance with existing procedures during Clinton's visit to Indonesia tomorrow
and Thursday.
-- BERNAMA