In response to press reports that the ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan has welcomed Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's plan for an Asia-Pacific Community, the MFA Spokesman said,
"This is not ASEAN's position. The ASEAN Foreign Ministers have not discussed the matter. The Secretary General must have only been expressing a personal opinion. We understand that the ASEAN Secretary-General has since clarified his position and asked for more details about Australia's proposal. We also note that the Secretary-General had reminded Prime Minister Rudd that ASEAN has been playing a central role in East Asia's community building efforts."
When asked for Singapore's position, the MFA Spokesman added, "Singapore like all ASEAN countries is committed to the principle that ASEAN should be at the centre of any regional architecture. All ASEAN Dialogue Partners have supported this principle. Prime Minister Rudd's proposal appears to be a departure from Australia's previous position."
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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
15 JUNE 2008