Wednesday, 17 December 2008

Thailand To Host Asean Summit Late February

12-16-08
(Updates with summit in Bangkok, inserts quotes)

BANGKOK (AFP)--Thailand said Tuesday it will host a delayed summit of Southeast Asian nations in Bangkok in February, using a government complex that was only recently vacated by protesters after a three-month siege.

The foreign ministry said the 14th summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations would be held Feb. 24 to 26 at Government House, the scene of months of demonstrations.

The meeting was delayed from mid-December amid political turmoil including the occupation of the capital's airports, which led to the toppling of the ruling party loyal to ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

"The organizing of the Asean summit is one of the government's first priorities to restore international confidence, and it will be held at Government House in Bangkok," spokesman Buranaj Smutharaks told reporters.

Abhisit Vejjajiva, voted in Monday as the new premier, said he wanted to move the summit forward to February to rebuild confidence in the kingdom.

The meeting of the 10-member Asean had been postponed to March after antigovernment protesters took over Bangkok's two airports and left 350,000 travelers stranded.

Asean comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

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