CALD Statement No. 3 S. 2008

CALD Congratulates Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, CALD Founding Chair (1993-95), On His Assumption as ASEAN Secretary-General

The Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD) proudly congratulates and expresses sincere salutation to Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, former Foreign Minister of Thailand (1997-2001) and founding Chairman of CALD (1993-95), on his assumption as Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) from 2008-2012.

CALD is fully confident that under Dr. Surin’s leadership and inspiration, the ASEAN will be steered to new horizons of change and challenge, bringing governments and peoples of the region toward greater and more meaningful dialogue and cooperation.

As Founding Chair of CALD and Foreign Minister of Thailand, Dr. Surin Pitsuwan left an enduring example of consensus-building and productive engagement with other liberal democratic groups and partners across the region and the world in the promotion of human rights, democracy and the rule of law. With the newly-adopted ASEAN Charter as a springboard, Dr. Pitsuwan is well-positioned to link ASEAN more extensively and significantly with the rest of the world and make it a force for democratic development and for regional and global progress.