at the
Ninth Conference of the ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Information (AMRI)
Jakarta, 24 May 2007

Mr. Chairman,

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

ASEAN Ministers have highlighted “change” and “new” in the ASEAN information sector. Indeed, technology has changed many things and brought out new challenges. Technology waits for no one. We must utilize it for ASEAN’s advancement. What the Ministers have said today showed that they are aware of three important elements that would affect ASEAN:

First, AMRI/SOMRI is a part of the ASEAN family and should stay connected to the other members of the family.

Second, AMRI/SOMRI can do more to increase awareness of ASEAN and to strengthen ASEAN identity.

Third, AMRI/SOMRI must ensure that ASEAN is not technologically backward and can make the best use of all opportunities thrown up by technological development.

As some of the Ministers also mentioned about ASEAN Charter, let me say a few words on the current status of the drafting of the ASEAN Charter by the High Level Task Force on the Drafting of the ASEAN Charter. One of the greatest concerns for the drafters is to make ASEAN more relevant to the people. It is not an easy task. To date, the drafters have completed about three quarters of the envisaged drafting work. The plan is to finish the first cut of the draft by the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting in Manila at the end of July 2007. After that, the draft will be sent to all ASEAN Ministers in other sectors for comments.

The theme of this AMRI is a sharing and caring community. This means narrowing the development gap among the ASEAN Member Countries and also within the countries by building capacity and implementing what we had agreed to do.

In closing, let me reiterate that the objective of AMRI/SOMRI must certainly be to ensure better-informed ASEAN citizens.

Thank you.