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(June 20,
2007/ Bangkok) Thailand will nominate its former Foreign
Minister and CALD Founding Chairman, Hon. Surin Pitsuwan, as the
new secretary-general of the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN).
Dr. Pitsuwan,
57, gained a PhD from Harvard University in 1982, and has also
studied Arabic and Islamic philosophy at the American University
in Cairo.
The ASEAN
Secretary General-designate is an expert on foreign affairs and
was named Thailand's deputy foreign minister in 1992 and became
foreign minister of the government of Prime Minister Chuan
Leekpai from November 1997 to February 2001.
He served
as CALD Chairman from 1993 to 1995 when the Democrat Party of
Thailand became the first CALD Chair Party. He has served as
keynote speakers in various CALD conferences including those on
the Asian Crisis (Bangkok, 1998), Democratic Transitions
(Jakarta, 2000), Globalization (Manila, 2001) and Poverty
Alleviation (Colombo, 2003). He was also a speaker during the
CALD’s 10th Anniversary Celebrations (Bangkok, 2003)
and its Executive Visit to Bangkok (2005). |
