November 29, 2008
Bangkok - Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat said the government would host the 14th ASEAN Summit in December though several countries proposed the summit should be put off.
Somchai said the postponement would ruin the country’s reputation. He and Foreign Minister Sompong Amornvivat would meet to further estimate the situation again.
The summit is scheduled to take place on December 15-18 in Chiang Mai.
Mr. Vitthavas Srivihok, director general of the Department of ASEAN Affairs, admitted that the closure of the Suvarnabhumi Airport was a major setback in terms of travel and safety of the leaders who would attend the summit.
It was previously reported that Thailand would still host the ASEAN Summit or postpone the summit for at least one month.
AFP reported that ASEAN secretary general Surin Pitsuwan would travel to Thailand to assess whether it could host the summit.
Surin has not arrived in Thailand yet and it is not known if he has any plans to investigate the situation, according to foreign ministry.
Thailand is at the political crossroad as the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) has called for Somchai government’s resignation whereas PM Somchai rejected the army’s proposal to dissolve parliament.
