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Thailand ready to host ASEAN summit despite turmoil

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-09-16 19:51

BANGKOK -- 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.

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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.