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SINGAPORE: Thailand is ready to assume the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) even without a foreign minister and while its troops face off against Cambodia, ASEAN's secretary general said Tuesday.
Thailand is to take over the rotating chair of the 10-nation ASEAN on Friday from Singapore after the group's foreign ministers conclude a series of annual meetings in the city-state.
Surin Pitsuwan, the ASEAN secretary general, told AFP he has no worries about Thailand taking over despite recent disarray in the country's government.
He noted that as a founding member of the bloc, established in 1967, Thailand is a veteran of regional diplomacy.
"I think Thailand has the expertise and has the experiences and has the confidence. And the officials, the permanent officials, are very, very competent. So, no worry," said Surin, himself a former Thai foreign minister.
Thailand prepares to take the group's helm as more than 500 of its troops engage in a standoff with 1,000 soldiers from neighbour and fellow ASEAN member Cambodia on their border around a small Buddhist pagoda.
Deputy Prime Minister Sahas Bandidkul is representing Thailand at this week's ASEAN meetings after the foreign minister, Noppadon Pattama, resigned earlier this month in a controversy over the Preah Vihear temple, now the subject of the standoff.
A court ruled that Noppadon and the entire cabinet should have sought parliamentary approval for a deal with Cambodia over the temple. The deal supported Cambodia's bid to seek World Heritage status for Preah Vihear.
Noppadon became the third top official in the ruling People Power Party to be forced out of office in less than 48 hours over various controversies.
Thailand remains one of three ASEAN members, along with Indonesia and the Philippines, which have yet to ratify the new ASEAN charter that transforms it into a legal entity and will give the group greater clout in international negotiations.
- AFP/yb
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