BANGKOK: Thailand's Foreign Minister said yesterday that the kingdom may have to postpone a regional summit until March as anti-government protesters continue their occupation of Bangkok's two airports.
Mr Sompong Amornwiwat said the Thai Cabinet would make its final decision tomorrow over whether to go ahead with the Asean meeting scheduled for Dec 15 to Dec 18.
'This is just my personal comment, but Thailand may have to postpone...to early March,' Mr Sompong said on the Thai state-run NBT television station.
'But it depends on the Cabinet's decision, because the postponement would not only affect Thailand financially, but more importantly it will affect the country's image.'
Thailand is under increasing pressure to postpone the summit.
Asean secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan yesterday stopped short of recommending Bangkok postpone the meet, but said that a delay would 'not negatively affect Asean work plans too much'.
'This will be the first summit with the Asean Charter in place, so there is a need to make it special. A postponement would be good for Asean officials to prepare everything well with the Thai officials,' he said in a statement.
