Bangkok--Sep 17--MFA
Responding to the questions from the media about Thailand’s readiness to convene the 14th ASEAN Summit and other related meetings in December 2008, Mr. Thani Thongphakdi, Acting Director-General of the Information Department and Acting Foreign Ministry Spokesman, responded as follows:
1. Today (16 September), the Thai Senate approved the Bill on the Protection for the Operation of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, B.E. … which will enable Thailand to ratify the ASEAN Charter. The Thai House of Representatives earlier passed the same draft legislation on 10 September 2008. Once signed into law by His Majesty the King, it is expected that Thailand should be able to deposit the instrument of ratification of the ASEAN Charter with the ASEAN Secretary-General before the 14th ASEAN Summit, which is scheduled to be held in Bangkok this December (see attachment).
2. Preparations are also well underway for the 14th ASEAN Summit and other related Meetings. Tourism and Sports Minister Weerasak Kowsurat, in his capacity as the Chairman of the National Sub-committee on Protocol and Co-ordination of the 14th ASEAN Summit, has already convened meetings of the Sub-committee, the latest on 28 August 2008, to discuss logistics and physical arrangements for the Summit. Apart from the National Sub-committee on Protocol and Co-ordination, the Royal Thai Government has also established other National Sub-committees to prepare for the Summit, including the Sub-committee on Substantive Issues, the Sub-committee on Public Relations and the Sub-committee on Security and Traffic Arrangements.
3. In addition, the First Meetings of the ASEAN Standing Committee (ASC) and the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) under Thailand’s Chairmanship have also been convened on 18-20 August and 3-5 September 2008, respectively, in the Kingdom. The ASC and SOM were briefed by Thailand, in its capacity as the ASEAN Chair, on the progress made in logistical and substantive preparations of the Summits, with other member countries expressing satisfaction with the steps taken.
4. Taking into account the above developments, preparations for the ASEAN Summit and other endeavours by Thailand as the ASEAN Chair are on-track. Recent political developments in Thailand have not in any way affected these preparations which are in-line with the announced timelines.
Tentative Programme
14th ASEAN SUMMIT AND RELATED MEETINGS
15- 18 December 2008
Monday 15 December 2008
- Informal Dialogue between ASEAN Heads of State/ Government (HoG/S) and ASEAN Youths (TBC)
- Informal Dialogue between ASEAN HoG/S and ASEAN Civil Society (TBC)
- Informal Dialogue between ASEAN HoG/S and ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (TBC)
- ASEAN Heads of State/Government Informal Working Dinner
Tuesday 16 December 2008
- 14th ASEAN Summit
- 12th ASEAN Plus Three Summit
- 12th ASEAN-China Summit
- 12th ASEAN-Japan Summit
- 12th ASEAN-ROK Summit
- Gala Dinner
Wednesday 17 December 2008
- 7th ASEAN-India Summit
4th East Asia Summit
- Working Lunch of EAS HOS/Gs
- Signing Ceremony of the Outcome Documents of the ASEAN+3 Summit, ASEAN+1 Summits, East Asia Summit
- Press Conference by H.E. Prime Minister of Thailand and Chairman of the 14th ASEAN Summit
Thursday 18 December 2008
- 3rd ASEAN-UN Summit
- Lunch hosted by H.E. Prime Minister of Thailand for the ASEAN HOS/Gs and UNSG
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-
Responding to the questions from the media about Thailand’s readiness to convene the 14th ASEAN Summit and other related meetings in December 2008, Mr. Thani Thongphakdi, Acting Director-General of the Information Department and Acting Foreign Ministry Spokesman, responded as follows:
1. Today (16 September), the Thai Senate approved the Bill on the Protection for the Operation of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, B.E. … which will enable Thailand to ratify the ASEAN Charter. The Thai House of Representatives earlier passed the same draft legislation on 10 September 2008. Once signed into law by His Majesty the King, it is expected that Thailand should be able to deposit the instrument of ratification of the ASEAN Charter with the ASEAN Secretary-General before the 14th ASEAN Summit, which is scheduled to be held in Bangkok this December (see attachment).
2. Preparations are also well underway for the 14th ASEAN Summit and other related Meetings. Tourism and Sports Minister Weerasak Kowsurat, in his capacity as the Chairman of the National Sub-committee on Protocol and Co-ordination of the 14th ASEAN Summit, has already convened meetings of the Sub-committee, the latest on 28 August 2008, to discuss logistics and physical arrangements for the Summit. Apart from the National Sub-committee on Protocol and Co-ordination, the Royal Thai Government has also established other National Sub-committees to prepare for the Summit, including the Sub-committee on Substantive Issues, the Sub-committee on Public Relations and the Sub-committee on Security and Traffic Arrangements.
3. In addition, the First Meetings of the ASEAN Standing Committee (ASC) and the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) under Thailand’s Chairmanship have also been convened on 18-20 August and 3-5 September 2008, respectively, in the Kingdom. The ASC and SOM were briefed by Thailand, in its capacity as the ASEAN Chair, on the progress made in logistical and substantive preparations of the Summits, with other member countries expressing satisfaction with the steps taken.
4. Taking into account the above developments, preparations for the ASEAN Summit and other endeavours by Thailand as the ASEAN Chair are on-track. Recent political developments in Thailand have not in any way affected these preparations which are in-line with the announced timelines.
Tentative Programme
14th ASEAN SUMMIT AND RELATED MEETINGS
15- 18 December 2008
Monday 15 December 2008
- Informal Dialogue between ASEAN Heads of State/ Government (HoG/S) and ASEAN Youths (TBC)
- Informal Dialogue between ASEAN HoG/S and ASEAN Civil Society (TBC)
- Informal Dialogue between ASEAN HoG/S and ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (TBC)
- ASEAN Heads of State/Government Informal Working Dinner
Tuesday 16 December 2008
- 14th ASEAN Summit
- 12th ASEAN Plus Three Summit
- 12th ASEAN-China Summit
- 12th ASEAN-Japan Summit
- 12th ASEAN-ROK Summit
- Gala Dinner
Wednesday 17 December 2008
- 7th ASEAN-India Summit
4th East Asia Summit
- Working Lunch of EAS HOS/Gs
- Signing Ceremony of the Outcome Documents of the ASEAN+3 Summit, ASEAN+1 Summits, East Asia Summit
- Press Conference by H.E. Prime Minister of Thailand and Chairman of the 14th ASEAN Summit
Thursday 18 December 2008
- 3rd ASEAN-UN Summit
- Lunch hosted by H.E. Prime Minister of Thailand for the ASEAN HOS/Gs and UNSG
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-