THE venue for the important Asean Plus Six summit meeting in Thailand in October has yet to be finalised, the Prime Minister says. A decision will be announced on Monday, August 24.
Speculation by various members of the government has the gathering destined for Hua Hin/Cha-Am or Phuket, or even Pattaya.
However, the latest statement from PM Abhisit Vejjajiva, which presumably overrides all previous statements, has it that the venue will be finalised next Monday.
The government Thai News Agency reports that Khun Abhisit said the involved agencies will meet on August 24 and consider the timetable and venue for the 15th Asean summit and related meetings with its dialogue partners.
Monday's meeting will set the suitable time and place for the gathering, he said.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kasit Piromya, said last week that the summit venue had been changed from Phuket to Cha-Am and Hua Hin, much closer to Bangkok, but that the summit would take place on October 23-25 as originally planned.
Mr Abhisit, however, said the exact venue of the summit is still not decided and said that concerned officials are considering several factors before making the final decision.
The PM said it might be ''inconvenient'' to hold the summit in Phuket because the nine-day Vegetarian Festival will also be underway, with daily street parades and fireworks posing unusual security issues.
Phuket's Governor, Wichai Praisa-nob, has warned that advance bookings for the Vegetarian Festival may cause a problem, as it did for a summit scheduled for Songkran, if the Government does not decide on a venue quickly.
Economic ministers in the region have agreed to begin preliminary work on free trade agreements covering the 10 Asean members and its six dialogue partners, with an October deadline for several tasks.
In joint statements released by the Asean secretariat over the weekend, the group's ministers along with those of Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, and New Zealand said they wanted to begin work on deals that will, in essence, combine separate trade pacts brokered with single dialogue partners.
The October summit brings together leaders of the 16 nations and follows the July gathering of foreign ministers or senior representatives from 27 nations on Phuket.
Phuket Governor Halts Big $$$ Taj Exotica Project
Photo Album Phuket's upmarket Taj Exotica project has been halted by the Governor, who wants to know more about potential environmental issues. The resort is to go on a small island.
Phuket Governor Halts Big $$$ Taj Exotica Project
Rohingha Deaths in Custody: Human Rights Blow
Photo Album A second death in custody and the failing health of Rohingya boatpeople spotlight the official secrecy that Thailand places around issues of basic human rights.
Rohingha Deaths in Custody: Human Rights Blow
Police Catch Beachside Burglar in Record Time
Latest Two Australian mates enjoying Phuket thought a robber in the neighboring province of Phang Nga had escaped with their expensive gear. But police solved the crime in record time.
Police Catch Beachside Burglar in Record Time
Olive the Turtle Fights for Life on Phuket
Photo Album Phuket becomes a sanctuary for a Naiharn turtle that is probably the latest victim of fishing nets. The Olive Ridley species is uncommon on the island.
Olive the Turtle Fights for Life on Phuket
Phuket Scams 'Must End to Save Tourism'
Latest With pressure from the national government, efforts are being made on Phuket and in Bangkok to halt scams that are giving Thailand a bad name among tourists.
Phuket Scams 'Must End to Save Tourism'
Tsunami Dead Drowning in a Wave of Apathy
Photo Album Thailand is among 40 nations doing nothing to preserve the memory of the unidentified dead who perished on Phuket and along the Andaman coast in the tsunami.
Tsunami Dead Drowning in a Wave of Apathy
Speculation by various members of the government has the gathering destined for Hua Hin/Cha-Am or Phuket, or even Pattaya.
However, the latest statement from PM Abhisit Vejjajiva, which presumably overrides all previous statements, has it that the venue will be finalised next Monday.
The government Thai News Agency reports that Khun Abhisit said the involved agencies will meet on August 24 and consider the timetable and venue for the 15th Asean summit and related meetings with its dialogue partners.
Monday's meeting will set the suitable time and place for the gathering, he said.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kasit Piromya, said last week that the summit venue had been changed from Phuket to Cha-Am and Hua Hin, much closer to Bangkok, but that the summit would take place on October 23-25 as originally planned.
Mr Abhisit, however, said the exact venue of the summit is still not decided and said that concerned officials are considering several factors before making the final decision.
The PM said it might be ''inconvenient'' to hold the summit in Phuket because the nine-day Vegetarian Festival will also be underway, with daily street parades and fireworks posing unusual security issues.
Phuket's Governor, Wichai Praisa-nob, has warned that advance bookings for the Vegetarian Festival may cause a problem, as it did for a summit scheduled for Songkran, if the Government does not decide on a venue quickly.
Economic ministers in the region have agreed to begin preliminary work on free trade agreements covering the 10 Asean members and its six dialogue partners, with an October deadline for several tasks.
In joint statements released by the Asean secretariat over the weekend, the group's ministers along with those of Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, and New Zealand said they wanted to begin work on deals that will, in essence, combine separate trade pacts brokered with single dialogue partners.
The October summit brings together leaders of the 16 nations and follows the July gathering of foreign ministers or senior representatives from 27 nations on Phuket.
Phuketwan Phuket News
Phuket Governor Halts Big $$$ Taj Exotica Project
Photo Album Phuket's upmarket Taj Exotica project has been halted by the Governor, who wants to know more about potential environmental issues. The resort is to go on a small island.
Phuket Governor Halts Big $$$ Taj Exotica Project
Rohingha Deaths in Custody: Human Rights Blow
Photo Album A second death in custody and the failing health of Rohingya boatpeople spotlight the official secrecy that Thailand places around issues of basic human rights.
Rohingha Deaths in Custody: Human Rights Blow
Police Catch Beachside Burglar in Record Time
Latest Two Australian mates enjoying Phuket thought a robber in the neighboring province of Phang Nga had escaped with their expensive gear. But police solved the crime in record time.
Police Catch Beachside Burglar in Record Time
Olive the Turtle Fights for Life on Phuket
Photo Album Phuket becomes a sanctuary for a Naiharn turtle that is probably the latest victim of fishing nets. The Olive Ridley species is uncommon on the island.
Olive the Turtle Fights for Life on Phuket
Phuket Scams 'Must End to Save Tourism'
Latest With pressure from the national government, efforts are being made on Phuket and in Bangkok to halt scams that are giving Thailand a bad name among tourists.
Phuket Scams 'Must End to Save Tourism'
Tsunami Dead Drowning in a Wave of Apathy
Photo Album Thailand is among 40 nations doing nothing to preserve the memory of the unidentified dead who perished on Phuket and along the Andaman coast in the tsunami.
Tsunami Dead Drowning in a Wave of Apathy
