The ASEAN Charter will bring many welcome improvements to ASEAN which will be much more institutionalized as a result, Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday.
"For instance, leaders will meet twice a year instead of once. The Secretary General will have four deputies instead of two. Each ASEAN country will have a permanent representative to ASEAN to ensure that ASEAN work is accorded due attention," Badawi said in his keynote address to the 22nd Asia-Pacific Roundtable.
"Collaborative forums have been streamlined and dedicated to different key areas. Decision-making, oversight and compliance will be substantially enhanced, " he added.
Malaysia has ratified the Charter, and five other members have also done so.
"I look forward to all other members ratifying the Charter according to their due national processes, so that it can come into force," Badawi said.
"The ASEAN Charter is the outcome of consensus," the Prime Minister said.
The Charter is not just about human rights and democracy, it is also not just about economic development, or only about security cooperation. It is about all three, and much more, Badawi said.
(Xinhua News Agency June 4, 2008)
