Bangkok--Sep 1--MFA
On 29 August 2008, Mr. Thani Thongphakdi, Acting Director-General of the Information Department and Acting Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, answered press queries about whether Thailand’s Chairmanship of ASEAN and on-going preparations for the 14th ASEAN Summit, to be held in Bangkok during 15-18 December 2008, have been affected by the current political situation in the Kingdom, as follows:
1. Preparations for all aspects of Thailand’s ASEAN Chairmanship began long before the formal handing over ceremony following the 41st ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on 24 July 2008 in Singapore. Once Thailand assumed the Chairmanship, on 25 July 2008, Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej presided over the launch of the official website for the 14th ASEAN Summit (www.14thaseansummit.org) and the Thai Young Ambassadors of Virtue and ASEAN Project.
2. On 18 August 2008, Foreign Minister Tej Bunnag opened the first meeting of the ASEAN Standing Committee (ASC) under Thailand’s Chairmanship. The ASC was briefed about Thailand’s preparations for the 14th ASEAN Summit and related meetings in December. It also considered various substantive issues, including proposed outcome documents and other documents to be adopted during the Summit. Next week during 3-5 September 2008, Thailand will also host the first Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) under its Chairmanship, during which preparations for the Summit and other meetings will be further considered.
3. Yesterday (28 August 2008), Tourism and Sports Minister Weerasak Kowsurat also presided over the Sub-committee on Protocol and Co-ordination of the 14th ASEAN Summit, which discussed many logistics and physical arrangements for the Summit and related meetings in December.
4. The current political situation in Thailand has therefore not affected Thailand’s Chairmanship nor its preparations for the Summit which are proceeding as planned. As for the on-going protests themselves, they will be addressed in accordance with the Kingdom’s laws, given the importance attached by the Royal Thai Government to the rule of law
Prime Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Press Division, Department of Information Tel.(02) 643-5170
Fax. (02) 643-5169 E-mail : div0704@mfa.go.th End.
-PM-
On 29 August 2008, Mr. Thani Thongphakdi, Acting Director-General of the Information Department and Acting Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, answered press queries about whether Thailand’s Chairmanship of ASEAN and on-going preparations for the 14th ASEAN Summit, to be held in Bangkok during 15-18 December 2008, have been affected by the current political situation in the Kingdom, as follows:
1. Preparations for all aspects of Thailand’s ASEAN Chairmanship began long before the formal handing over ceremony following the 41st ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on 24 July 2008 in Singapore. Once Thailand assumed the Chairmanship, on 25 July 2008, Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej presided over the launch of the official website for the 14th ASEAN Summit (www.14thaseansummit.org) and the Thai Young Ambassadors of Virtue and ASEAN Project.
2. On 18 August 2008, Foreign Minister Tej Bunnag opened the first meeting of the ASEAN Standing Committee (ASC) under Thailand’s Chairmanship. The ASC was briefed about Thailand’s preparations for the 14th ASEAN Summit and related meetings in December. It also considered various substantive issues, including proposed outcome documents and other documents to be adopted during the Summit. Next week during 3-5 September 2008, Thailand will also host the first Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) under its Chairmanship, during which preparations for the Summit and other meetings will be further considered.
3. Yesterday (28 August 2008), Tourism and Sports Minister Weerasak Kowsurat also presided over the Sub-committee on Protocol and Co-ordination of the 14th ASEAN Summit, which discussed many logistics and physical arrangements for the Summit and related meetings in December.
4. The current political situation in Thailand has therefore not affected Thailand’s Chairmanship nor its preparations for the Summit which are proceeding as planned. As for the on-going protests themselves, they will be addressed in accordance with the Kingdom’s laws, given the importance attached by the Royal Thai Government to the rule of law
Prime Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Press Division, Department of Information Tel.(02) 643-5170
Fax. (02) 643-5169 E-mail : div0704@mfa.go.th End.
-PM-