Obama to visit Thailand next month

BANGKOK, October 12 (TNA) - US President Barack Obama is tentatively scheduled to visit Thailand from November 18-19, 2012, but Bangkok is waiting for an official confirmation from Washington. Senior officials and staffs of the US Embassy in Bangkok, as well as those from the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs and special branch police met at Bangkok's Government House on Thursday for an unofficial discussion on preparations for the US President's forthcoming trip to Thailand. The US and Thai officials and police also inspected Santi Maitree and Thai Khu Fa buildings in the compound of the Thai government seat, as part of the preparations for Thailand's reception of Obama. Staffs of the US Embassy in Bangkok declined to elaborate on the incumbent US President's planned visit. However, the result of the upcoming US presidential election on November 6, 2012 will decide whether Obama will make the visit to Thailand. Obama earlier planned to visit Thailand after the past ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in Cambodia, but he later cancelled the plan. (TNA)