BANGKOK, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's ongoing political crisis will not
affect Bangkok's readiness to host ASEAN ministerial and summit meetings
scheduled late this year, Thai Government Spokesman Wichienchote Sukchoterat
said Tuesday.
Thailand is ready to host those meetings as scheduled, no matter who will
be the prime minister or foreign minister of Thailand, said the spokesman.
"Our political problems are our own internal affairs and have nothing to do
with ASEAN," Wichienchote said.
The remarks came after Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Sen voiced doubt about
Bangkok's readiness to host ASEAN meetings as rotating chairman of the regional
bloc due to its recent political turmoil.
ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) groups Thailand, Cambodia,
Singapore, Vietnam, Laos, Brunei, Malaysia, Myanmar, Indonesia, and the
Philippines.
Thailand took over the chairmanship of ASEAN from Singapore on July 24th.
During the one and a half years' chairmanship, Thailand is due to host one ASEAN
Summit Meeting in 2008 and two Summit Meetings in 2009.
Thailand is now run by a caretaker government as former prime minister
Samak Sundaravej was forced to step down after found breaching the Constitution
early this month.