December 6, 2008
Bangkok - Chiang Mai will be chosen as the place to host the 14th ASEAN Summit and the issue will be submitted to the new government, according to the Department of ASEAN Affairs.
Thailand would take this chance to promote its tourism after the impact of the Suvarnabhumi Airport closure.
Vithavas Srivihok, director general of the ASEAN Affairs Department, said the postponement did not affect the preparation much.
The ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting will take place in Jakarta, Indonesia on December 15.
Thailand may have to nominate its representative to attend the meeting if the foreign minister is not available.
The ASEAN Charter will officially come into force on December 15.
Thailand already proposed to put off its event hosting to March 2009. Vithavas believed the 2009 ASEAN working schedule would not be affected if the summit took place in March.
He also hoped there would not be another military coup since it could affect Thailand’s ASEAN chairmanship.
Foreign ministry already informed the postponement of the summit and other kinds of meeting to 16 member nations.
