BANGKOK POST and AFP
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen yesterday backed a proposal for Thailand to relinquish hosting a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) originally scheduled for this month.
Thailand said last Tuesday it was delaying the meeting until March due to its ongoing political turmoil, which saw anti-government protesters occupy both of Bangkok's airports.
Speaking at Cambodia's national assembly, Hun Sen strongly backed a suggestion from Singapore that the bloc consider staging the summit in January at the Jakarta-based secretariat of the 10-member Asean.
"We understand Thailand's difficulties, but Thailand should understand the other nine members of Asean - they should not become hostages of Thailand's political crisis," Hun Sen said.
"So I think the proposal of the Singaporean prime minister is a good way to resolve the problem."
Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Friday said postponing the summit was a setback for all of Southeast Asia. He added the meeting should not be delayed too long during the current global financial crisis, which he said is affecting all Asean members.
Thailand currently holds the rotating chairmanship of Asean until the end of next year. The other members of the regional grouping are Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam.
The Foreign Ministry yesterday said in a statement that Thailand stands ready to host the summit and could hold it before March.
In addition to showing readiness to convene the meeting, the ministry reaffirmed Thailand's flexibility to convene the summit "at the earliest dates as soon as a new government is able to perform fully its duties".
Thailand said last Tuesday it was delaying the meeting until March due to its ongoing political turmoil, which saw anti-government protesters occupy both of Bangkok's airports.
Speaking at Cambodia's national assembly, Hun Sen strongly backed a suggestion from Singapore that the bloc consider staging the summit in January at the Jakarta-based secretariat of the 10-member Asean.
"We understand Thailand's difficulties, but Thailand should understand the other nine members of Asean - they should not become hostages of Thailand's political crisis," Hun Sen said.
"So I think the proposal of the Singaporean prime minister is a good way to resolve the problem."
Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Friday said postponing the summit was a setback for all of Southeast Asia. He added the meeting should not be delayed too long during the current global financial crisis, which he said is affecting all Asean members.
Thailand currently holds the rotating chairmanship of Asean until the end of next year. The other members of the regional grouping are Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam.
The Foreign Ministry yesterday said in a statement that Thailand stands ready to host the summit and could hold it before March.
In addition to showing readiness to convene the meeting, the ministry reaffirmed Thailand's flexibility to convene the summit "at the earliest dates as soon as a new government is able to perform fully its duties".
