Two vying for top ASEAN post

Mon, 21 Jul 1997 | Source: AP

KUALA LUMPUR (AP): A Filipino and Malaysian are vying to become the next secretary-general of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Malaysia's national news agency reported yesterday.

At their 30th annual meeting this week, the foreign ministers of the seven ASEAN members will decide between another five-year term for Malaysia's Ajit Singh or giving the post to Philippine foreign affairs undersecretary Rodolfo C. Severino, Bernama said, quoting ASEAN officials it didn't name.

Meanwhile, Ajit Singh said the ASEAN secretariat's annual budget was estimated at US$6 million and that all members had to share the cost equally, even though it is based in Jakarta.

The current ASEAN members are the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei, Thailand and Vietnam.

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