Asean summit off till March

Written by Gunboy on Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008

THANIDA TANSUBHAPOL

The government has decided to postpone the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit until March.

The decision was made at a meeting of the cabinet in Chiang Mai yesterday.

The cabinet also cancelled the holiday it had earlier announced in the northern city from Dec 15 to 18, when the 2008 summit had been scheduled, government spokesman Nattawut Saikua said.

Mr Nattawut said the cabinet’s decision was legal because it was made before the Constitution Court yesterday dissolved the three main coalition parties - People Power, Chart Thai and Matchimathipataya.

The Foreign Ministry had already sent letters to all Asean members and its dialogue partners informing them.

The official ceremony marking the Asean Charter coming into effect on Dec 15 will now be held in Jakarta, attended by the Asean foreign ministers.

Asean Department director-general Vitavas Srivihok said Asean secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan had no objections to the change.

If Asean member countries agree on March, the summit could be held back-to-back with the Asean leaders’ retreat planned for early that month, he said.

Asean leaders meet twice a year - at the summit and the retreat, which is an informal gathering.

Bangkok Post
Wednesday December 03, 2008