GREEK ENVOY TO ASEAN HANDS IN LETTER OF APPOINTMENT

By Mohd Nasir Yusoff

JAKARTA, April 8 (Bernama) -- Dimitri Tsikouris, who has been appointed
Greece's ambassador to Asean, Tuesday presented his letter of appointment to
Asean secretary-general Dr Surin Pitsuwan.

Greece became the eighth member state of the European Union (EU) to appoint
its ambassador to the 10-member Asean.

In welcoming Tsikouris, who is also Greece's ambassador to Indonesia, Dr
Surin said in a statement Tuesday that "we welcome the appointment of Ambassador
Tsikouris and look forward to working with him to expand Asean-Greece and
Asean-EU relations".

According to the Asean Charter, non-Asean countries may appoint and accredit
ambassadors to Asean.

As one of Asean's dialogue partners, the EU has announced that all 27 member
states will appoint ambassadors to Asean.

Greece's appointment of an ambassador to Asean was preceded by Belgium, the
Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany and the United Kingdom.

The European Commission has also appointed its ambassador to Asean.

-- BERNAMA