Thailand Puts Forward Surin As Asean Secretary-general

[george]

Thailand puts forward Surin as ASEAN Secretary-General

BANGKOK: -- The Thai cabinet has named former foreign minister Surin Pitsuwan as Thailand 's candidate for the post of ASEAN Secretary General, government spokesman Yongyuth Mayalarp said Tuesday.

Dr.Surin, a Muslim, is to compete for the top ASEAN post which will be left vacant by Singapore's Ong Teng Shieng at the end of this year.

Given a five-year term, the new ASEAN chief will assume the post from January 1, 2008 until the end of 2012.

The deputy Democrat Party leader, who is currently a member of the National Legislative Assembly, was once foreign minister in the second cabinet of former prime minister Chuan Leekpai and has been active in international public affairs.

Dr. Surin earned a Ph.D. at Harvard University in the United States and lectured on political science subjects at Thammasat University before he jumped into the political arena and became a veteran MP of the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat.

--TNA 2007-06-20