PATTAYA CANCELLATION WILL NOT WEAKEN ASEAN

By Mohd Nasir Yusoff

JAKARTA, April 15 (Bernama) -- The cancellation of the 'Related Summits' in
Pattaya on April 11-12 was a serious setback for ASEAN and an irrevocable loss
of great opportunity.

However, it would neither weaken nor discourage ASEAN, said its
secretary-general, Dr Surin Pitsuwan, Tuesday.

He said, the centrality of ASEAN had not been questioned and in fact, many
ASEAN leaders and their Dialogue Partners expressed support for ASEAN to
re-schedule the 'Related Summits', as soon as possible.

Stressing that what had happened in Pattaya and Bangkok would not erode the
credibility and dignity of Thailand's chairmanship of ASEAN, he said:

"On the contrary, the restrained government responses showed the integrity
of the Thai Government in restoring law and order with admirable respect for
life, safety and constitutional rights of all.

"The other ASEAN leaders and their Dialogue Partners were actually in
Pattaya (except for the Australian prime minister who was on his way, and the
Indian prime minister who could not attend); they were there, ready to meet and
cooperate, with us in ASEAN, even when many protesters were trying to block
traffic and create commotion," he said.

Being in Bali now, preparing to attend the meeting of the Third Bali
Regional Ministerial Conference, Surin said in a statement here, that he would
take advantage of the presence of several ASEAN Ministers and those of Dialogue
Partners and their senior officials to begin a round of consultations on the
next steps to regain momentum for ASEAN.

Surin, a Thai national himself, said he was confident that Thailand, as well
as ASEAN, would emerge from that chaos stronger and more determined to promote
dialogue and cooperation.

"Dialogue and cooperation, not protest and violence, will enable us to build
lasting peace, security and prosperity for all in individual countries, as well
as in our ASEAN Community," he added.

Welcoming the end of the anti-government protest in Bangkok Tuesday, he
hoped and prayed for normalcy to return to Thailand quickly so that the Thai
people could celebrate Songkran peacefully this week, in the tradition of family
reunion, friendship, and forgiveness.

Surin also expressed gratitude to Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva
and the Thai Government for the safe evacuation of the leaders of ASEAN member
states and their Dialogue Partners from Pattaya, following the cancellation of
the 'Related Summits'.

He pointed out that those affected leaders, as well as their ministers and
senior officials, agreed with the decision and they too, sympathised with
Abhisit for trying to avoid violence and bloodshed at all costs.
-- BERNAMA