JAKARTA, 8 December 2017 – A tribute to the late H.E. Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, who served as Secretary-General of ASEAN from 2008-2012, was held at the ASEAN Secretariat today. Dr. Surin passed away in Bangkok on 30 November 2017. He was 68 years old. The Secretary-General of ASEAN, H.E. Le Luong Minh and the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN who attended the tribute expressed their heartfelt condolences and sympathy on his demise.
In his tribute, Secretary-General Minh said that Dr. Surin, who was also a former Foreign Minister of Thailand, served the organization with distinction, contributing significantly to ASEAN’s progress. Dr. Surin was ASEAN Secretary-General at a period critical to ASEAN’s Community-building and integration agenda following the entry into force of the ASEAN Charter. “Dr. Surin has left ASEAN and the ASEAN Secretariat with a valuable legacy,” said SG Minh.
In her tribute, H.E. Elizabeth P. Buensuceso, Chair of the CPR, said that Dr. Surin had also played an important role in taking the ASEAN Free Trade Area forward into the ASEAN Economic Community as we know it today. “He gave his all to promoting the dream of a peaceful and prosperous ASEAN where each person could be a member of a caring and sharing community,” she said. Ambassador Buensuceso encouraged everyone to continue Dr. Surin’s work.
A minute’s silence was observed as a mark of respect for the late Dr. Surin.
