On the historic occasion of the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2007, the leaders of the ten-member countries signed the ASEAN Charter. This is an important milestone for the regional group as the Charter will make ASEAN stronger, more united and more effective. The Charter embodies the ASEAN community s purposes and principles, organs and decision-making process; a new legal personality; a system for the settlement of disputes; and an ASEAN Human Rights Body.

The Making of the ASEAN Charter captures the insiders views of the drafting of the Charter and hence is a must-read for anyone interested in ASEAN, international law and the art and science of negotiations.

Contents: Foreword (Dr Surin Pitsuwan); Heart Labour (Pengiran Dato Paduka Osman Patra); Facing Unfair Criticisms (Tan Sri Ahmad Fuzi bin Abdul Razak); The Jewel in My Crown (Aung Bwa); Drafting ASEAN s Tomorrow: The Eminent Persons Group and the ASEAN Charter (Rosario Gonzalez-Manalo); The Negotiating Process (Tommy Koh); The ASEAN Charter Dispute Settlement Mechanisms (Walter Woon); The Thai Perspective (Pradap Pibulsonggram); The Making of the ASEAN Charter in My Fresh Memories (Nguyen Trung Thanh); At Close Quarters with the Drafting of the ASEAN Charter (Ong Keng Yong); In Defence of the ASEAN Charter (Termsak Chalermpalanupap); A Long Journey (Dian Triansyah Djani); A Personal Reflection (Kao Kim Hourn); A New Turning Point in the Relations Among the Southeast Asian States (Bounkeut Sangsomak); Annexes: Charter of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations; ASEAN Sectoral Ministerial Bodies; Entities Associated with ASEAN; ASEAN Flag; ASEAN Emblem; List of Members of the High Level Task Force; List of HLTF Meetings.