Thailand's political reform talks ready

BANGKOK, August 24 (TNA) - The government-sponsored political reform talks, to be attended by several former prime ministers and prominent business operators will be held on August 25 as scheduled. Minister Attached to the Prime Minister's Office Varathep Ratanakorn, who is also Deputy Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister, confirmed the planned talks during the weekly TV and radio programme of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Saturday morning. Varathep said that preparations for the talks are now almost complete with many former prime ministers and representatives of the private sector have accepted the government's invitation to participate in the talks, except the major opposition Democrat Party, the anti-government People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) group and a group of 40 senators. According to the minister, the Pheu Thai Party-led coalition government will wait for their replies until Sunday, before the talks begin. The minister acknowledged that Prime Minister and also Defence Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will preside over the opening of the political reform talks before participants are allowed to express their opinions. (TNA)