THE CHAIRMAN of the ASEAN Standing Committee
for 1980-1981, His Excellency, General
Carlos P. Romulo, the Foreign Minister of the
Philippines, convened in Manila six meetings of
the Standing Committee during the year.
A special meeting in August 1980 preceeded
the First Meeting of the Standing Committee
which inscribed appreciations to H.E. Tengku
Ahmad Rithauddeen, Minister of Foreign Affairs
of Malaysia, for having served as Chairman of the
Standing Committee for 1979-1980, and to H.E.
Datuk Ali bin Abdullah, Secretary General of the
ASEAN Secretariat from 1978 to 1980. The
meeting also congratulated H.E. Ambassador
Narciso G. Reyes on Ms appointment as Secretary
General for 1980-1982.
During the year, the Standing Committee carried
on the day to day work of the Association
in preparation for the Ministerial Meeting in June
1981 in Manila. It also handled routine matters
to ensure continuity and made decisions which
could not wait for the Ministers Meeting. In the
course of its deliberations, the Committee submitted
for the consideration of the Foreign
Ministers important reports and recommendations
of the various ASEAN Committees
The Standing Committee also recommended
the approval of the application for official affiliation
of the ASEAN Confederation of Employers
(approved 24 November 1980), the Medical Association
of Southeast Asian Nations (30 January
1981), the Federation of ASEAN Shipowners'
Associations (20 May 1981), the ASEAN Music
Industry Association (20 May 1981) as ASEAN
Non-Governmental Organizations.
The Standing Committee also drew up guide-
lines and terms of reference in order to facilitate
the role and activities of the ASEAN Committees
in Third Countries.
The Directors General of ASEAN Coordinating
Agencies or ASEAN National Secretariats of
member countries were in attendance, assisted by
officials of the ASEAN Secretariat.
