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Published on November 9, 2007

Yes, not only will he use the occasion to bid farewell to the Asean leaders before he steps down some time after the December 23 election, but the Thai delegation should take pride in hosting the next Asean summit in Bangkok next year. Besides, Thailand's former foreign minister Surin Pitsuwan will become the new Asean secretary-general.

Surayud's trip, however, is likely to be tainted by chagrin since it's uncertain whether he'll be able to ink the agreement to form the Asean Economic Community (AEC) during the summit on November 22.

On Wednesday, some members of the National Legislative Assembly leaked the news that they planned to block the AEC, even though the NLA might give the green light for the prime minister to sign the Asean Charter, a regional constitution aimed at fostering the integration process among Asean countries.

The Kingdom's delay in ratifying the AEC treaty is highly likely, since the NLA has requested to set up a subcommittee to consider the blueprint.

Pro-Asean members voiced concern that Thailand may lose the opportunity to assert its active role in Asean if the Kingdom fails to ratify the agreement during the summit. After all, Thailand proposed this idea to the other Asean countries to further the process of economic integration. Not to mention that Thailand will be treated as a second-tier member.

Therefore, when NLA member and Board of Trade chairman Pramon Sutivong came out of the NLA meeting room, he was asked about the

possibility that the Kingdom would delay ratifying the agreement.

"Khun Pramon, what will happen if the Thai government cannot sign the treaty?" one reporter asked.

Pramon looked at the reporters and gave a simple answer: "We will lose face."

As simple as that. Let's see if the government can put the treaty forward again during the NLA meeting next week.

petchanet@yahoo.com

The Nation