Bangkok: The ASEAN Secretary-General, Dr Surin Pitsuwan, has expressed his understanding at the hesitation of Thai leaders to postpone the 14th ASEAN Summit scheduled for mid December for fear of upsetting the momentum of the organisation. He also reassured them that a postponement will not negatively affect ASEAN work plans too much.
Dr Surin flew from Jakarta to Penang before travelling by land to the Thai-Malaysian border en route to Bangkok due to the closure of Suvarnabhumi Airport since 25th of November.
“The Thai leaders have told me that their hesitation to postpone the Summit is due to a fear of complicating ASEAN progress on works already laid out due to the entry into force of the Charter on 15th of December,” said the Secretary-General.
“16 leaders from East Asia are expected to agree on a package of strategies and action plans to face the unfolding global financial turmoil as a unified front. They will be joined by heads of organisations such as the UN, World Bank, IMF, WTO, UNCTAD and the Asian Development Bank.”
“There are many declarations, agreements and MOUs that await endorsement at the Summit. Many important meetings, activities and projects are also being lined up under the Thai chairmanship in the coming year.”
Dr Surin continued, “I think that will give it an air of enormous significance. That is why Thailand’s leaders have to be circumspect about their impending decision. They want to make sure it is absolutely necessary to postpone before making the decision.”
The Secretary-General also expressed his willingness to work with the Thai government. “I certainly empathise with the Thai leaders and am grateful for their consideration of the matter. But I assure them that we can rearrange our work plans if Thailand, which currently holds the rotating chair of ASEAN and who is hosting the 14th Summit, decides to postpone it for a few weeks.”
Dr Surin reminded Thailand’s leaders of other advantages of a postponement. “As time is running short, a delay would enable the Secretariat to prepare better for the Summit.”
“This will be the first Summit with the ASEAN Charter in place, so there is a need to make it special. A postponement would be good for ASEAN officials to prepare everything well with the Thai officials.”
On Friday, 28th of November, Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sompong Amornvivat told the media that the final decision on the status of the 14th ASEAN Summit would be decided by the Thai Cabinet on the 2nd of December in Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand. While the Foreign Ministry is in favour of a postponement, Thailand, as chair would have to be careful as many ASEAN initiatives are in progress or ready to be launched at the Summit.
“I think we can live with that, we can wait a few more days and accord the host time to decide. I am sure they have the interest of ASEAN in mind,” Dr Surin said.
