Surin to fight the wealth gap

Surin Pitsuwan, the Asean secretary general designate, said one of the most immediate challenges is to narrow the gap in economic development among member countries.

Surin, who will become the first Asean secretary general under the new Asean Charter from January 1, said the 10 member countries should set the priority to develop the regional economy.

"Among Asean countries, we have both undevelopedcoun¬tries with an income per person of only US$209 (Bt6,500) per year and developed countries with a high income of about $30,000 per year. Therefore what can we do to bring the level of their economies closer?"

According to the Asean Charter, Surin will be able to speak on behalf of Asean coun¬tries and his role is equivalent to that of a foreign minister.

Surin said that apart from the economic disparity, govern¬ments should also promote pub¬lic awareness of Asean at the grass roots level.

He said Asean can have an important role to play in the international forum as the grouping is seen as a friendly organisation. The international community sees Asean as being of no danger or threat to anyone.

"When all leaders see the value of Asean, they will be ready to make this arena strong," he said.

Surin gave his first interview after being formally endorsed by the Asean leaders at the Singapore summit which ended Wednesday.

Surin will succeed Ong Keng Yong from Singapore on January 1.

He expressed his vision concerning the potential of Asean. "In my view, Asean has to change its role from being an organisation of the elite and diplomats to become an organisation of people.

"Forty years of Asean has seen it regarded as an association of leaders and diplomats, however under the new charter we must create a forum for the people and engage the people more than it did in the past," he said.

Asked if Asean was moving towards the European Union model he said: "The European Union is a model, but we cannot adopt the EU model entirely, because Asean countries are dif¬ferent in terms of cultural and political aspects."

Surin conceded Asean was following the EU path - and the Asean charter was an example.

"The gathering of the 10member group has more power in negotiations, which is following the EU step, but it is impos¬sible to make Asean the same as the EU because we have different cultures."

Surin said that as Asean secretary general, he would try to create more awareness of the Asean identity.

"It is time for everyone to par¬ticipate in Asean, including women and children," said Surin, adding that women had not yet played an active enough role.

Following the new charter, Surin said it was a "test" for him to explore the scope of the charter's facilities. When the secretarial office is under the new constitution, one positive benefit would be to set a framework for the organisation under the charter, he added.

By Jeerawat na Thalang,

Sucheera Pinijparakarn

Singapore