Today (20 March 2009) at the ASEAN Secretariat, the Philippines’ Permanent Representative to ASEAN, Orlando S. Mercado, presented his credentials to the Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr Surin Pitsuwan.
Ambassador Mercado’s presentation of credentials followed that of Permanent Representatives from Singapore, Viet Nam, Lao PDR and Cambodia. As prescribed in the ASEAN Charter, all ten ASEAN Member States shall appoint Permanent Representatives to ASEAN which shall form the Committee of Permanent Representatives (CPR). Among other functions, the CPR supports the work of the ASEAN Community Councils and ASEAN Sectoral Ministerial Bodies and facilitates ASEAN cooperation with external partners.
On Ambassador Mercado’s arrival, Dr Surin said, “We are now at a halfway mark towards establishing the CPR. I will be seeing the Permanent Representative from Myanmar next Monday. I am confident that the rest - Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand – will formally appoint their respective Permanent Representative shortly.”
Dr Surin added, “There is much work to be done following the entry into force of the ASEAN Charter. In order not to delay matters, the CPR will hold an informal meeting on 25 March 2009 at the ASEAN Secretariat and I look forward to a productive consultation with them.”
Ambassador Mercado previously served as the Secretary of National Defense and a member of the Philippines Senate.
Source: www.asean.org
Ambassador Mercado’s presentation of credentials followed that of Permanent Representatives from Singapore, Viet Nam, Lao PDR and Cambodia. As prescribed in the ASEAN Charter, all ten ASEAN Member States shall appoint Permanent Representatives to ASEAN which shall form the Committee of Permanent Representatives (CPR). Among other functions, the CPR supports the work of the ASEAN Community Councils and ASEAN Sectoral Ministerial Bodies and facilitates ASEAN cooperation with external partners.
On Ambassador Mercado’s arrival, Dr Surin said, “We are now at a halfway mark towards establishing the CPR. I will be seeing the Permanent Representative from Myanmar next Monday. I am confident that the rest - Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand – will formally appoint their respective Permanent Representative shortly.”
Dr Surin added, “There is much work to be done following the entry into force of the ASEAN Charter. In order not to delay matters, the CPR will hold an informal meeting on 25 March 2009 at the ASEAN Secretariat and I look forward to a productive consultation with them.”
Ambassador Mercado previously served as the Secretary of National Defense and a member of the Philippines Senate.
Source: www.asean.org
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