ASEAN chief expresses condolences on Soeharto`s demise

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, ASEAN`s secretary-general, heard the news of former President Soeharto`s death with great sadness while on an overseas mission.
According to a press release from the ASEAN Secretariat here Monday, Dr. Surin expressed his deepest condolences to the bereaved family of the late former president and to the people of the Republic of Indonesia on their profound loss.
"His passing is a time of great sadness for us all. The peoples of ASEAN will not forget him nor his achievements. ASEAN owes a huge debt of thanks to Bapak Soeharto for his firm guidance and leadership through the formative years of ASEAN."
Former President Soeharto hosted the first ASEAN Summit in Bali in February 1976, where the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, the Declaration of the ASEAN Concord, and the Agreement on the Establishment of the ASEAN Secretariat were signed. He also attended the next four Summits.(*) END

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