November 5, 2008
Bangkok - The Association of Southeast Asian Nations secretary general Surin Pitsuwan was confident Thailand could successfully hold the ASEAN Summit.
Surin, former foreign minister, expected the regional meeting to run smoothly without conflict.
"I don't think Thailand's domestic political issues will prevent it being a good host of the ASEAN summit," Surin told reporters after a meeting with Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat.
"It's Thailand's internal problem that Thailand needs to solve itself. I think Thai people are fully aware of what's important... so I think during the meeting there will be no serious conflict," Surin said.
The 14th summit is set to take place in Chiang Mai in December.
Somchai government earlier proposed to move the meeting place from Bangkok to Chiang Mai to avoid conflict with the anti-government group.
Surin confirmed the ASEAN summit would be attended by prominent international figures including presidents of the World Bank and Asian Development Bank, and UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon, according to AFP.
He also hoped leaders of the World Trade Organisation and International Monetary Fund would attend the meeting.
