ID :
39172
Tue, 01/06/2009 - 20:28
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/39172
The shortlink copeid
PM asserts confidence in Thai hosting of ASEAN summit
BANGKOK, Jan 6 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva asserted Tuesday that he is optimistic that Thailand could host the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit next month despite threats by anti-government protesters to block the meeting.
Urging supporters of the anti-government United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) to drop their plan to block the summit site, Mr. Abhisit said the upcoming ASEAN summit is a join effort held by and representing all Thais and everyone, including opposition political parties, should support the effort as Thailand will be the host.
The summit is scheduled to be held in Bangkok from February 27- March 1 after having been postponed from December 2008.
"I'm confident that our ASEAN friends still want Thailand to act as chair (of the bloc) and the host of the meeting is not the government (or an interest group) but all Thais nationwide," Mr. Abhisit said.
Regarding moves by former Thai foreign affairs minister Noppadon Pattama urging leaders of other ASEAN member countries to withdraw from the summit, Mr. Abhisit said the former minister should help protect the benefit to the country and people so that Thailand itself could move forward as well as participate in enabling the enforcement of the ASEAN charter.
Mr. Abhisit said the Chinese government leader had informed him earlier that China would be available and he would be ready to attend the summit before February 15, but the Vietnamese leader is busy before that date.
It has nothing to do with the planned protest by United Front protesters regarding the summit, Mr. Abhisit said.
He said that Thailand's Foreign Affairs Minister Kasit Piromya will host a meeting Wednesday regarding the summit and it should be finalised whether the venue of the meeting would be altered.
ASEAN is comprised of the 10 nations of South East Asia -- Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
While not qualified, by geography, to regular ASEAN membership, China, South Korea and Japan are ASEAN dialogue partners including India, Australia and New Zealand.(TNA)
Urging supporters of the anti-government United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) to drop their plan to block the summit site, Mr. Abhisit said the upcoming ASEAN summit is a join effort held by and representing all Thais and everyone, including opposition political parties, should support the effort as Thailand will be the host.
The summit is scheduled to be held in Bangkok from February 27- March 1 after having been postponed from December 2008.
"I'm confident that our ASEAN friends still want Thailand to act as chair (of the bloc) and the host of the meeting is not the government (or an interest group) but all Thais nationwide," Mr. Abhisit said.
Regarding moves by former Thai foreign affairs minister Noppadon Pattama urging leaders of other ASEAN member countries to withdraw from the summit, Mr. Abhisit said the former minister should help protect the benefit to the country and people so that Thailand itself could move forward as well as participate in enabling the enforcement of the ASEAN charter.
Mr. Abhisit said the Chinese government leader had informed him earlier that China would be available and he would be ready to attend the summit before February 15, but the Vietnamese leader is busy before that date.
It has nothing to do with the planned protest by United Front protesters regarding the summit, Mr. Abhisit said.
He said that Thailand's Foreign Affairs Minister Kasit Piromya will host a meeting Wednesday regarding the summit and it should be finalised whether the venue of the meeting would be altered.
ASEAN is comprised of the 10 nations of South East Asia -- Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
While not qualified, by geography, to regular ASEAN membership, China, South Korea and Japan are ASEAN dialogue partners including India, Australia and New Zealand.(TNA)
