core sector communique

 

Germany Committed to Strengthening EU-ASEAN Relations, Says Its New Ambassador to ASEAN

ASEAN Secretariat, 12 February 2010

 

The new German Ambassador to ASEAN said that closer interaction between the two regions – Europe and Southeast Asia – will be of growing strategic importance especially taking into account their similar regional implications. “While the EU and ASEAN are not siblings, they nevertheless share the same genes,” said H.E. Dr Norbert Baas upon the presentation of his credentials to the Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr Surin Pitsuwan, in a simple ceremony at the ASEAN Secretariat today.

 

According to Ambassador Baas, his appointment underlines his country’s longstanding and close relationship with ASEAN and its commitment in strengthening EU-ASEAN relations. Germany, he said, was implementing the Nuremberg Declaration on an EU-ASEAN Enhanced Partnership endorsed by the Foreign Ministers of the two regional organisations during the German Presidency of the European Union (EU) in 2007 by providing institutional and capacity building assistance to the ASEAN Secretariat for the period 2008-2010.

 

At the ceremony, Dr Surin extended his warmest congratulations to Ambassador Baas for assuming the post and looked forward to working closely with him. Both Dr Surin and Ambassador Baas agreed to ensure substantive discussions during the 18^th ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting to be held on 27-28 May 2010 in Madrid, Spain, especially on ASEAN centrality. Dr Surin also suggested the establishment of the Euro Chamber of Commerce in ASEAN to allow for better interaction with the ASEAN Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

 

ASEAN has been welcoming Ambassadors to ASEAN following the entry into force of the ASEAN Charter on 15 December 2008. The Charter stipulates that non-ASEAN Member States and relevant inter-governmental organisations may appoint and accredit Ambassadors to ASEAN.

 

Ambassador Baas, who is concurrently the Ambassador of Germany to Indonesia and Timor-Leste, succeeds the former German Ambassador to ASEAN, H.E. Baron Paul von Maltzahn.