Indonesia Monday proposes to formalize the ratification of the ASEAN Charter by all its 10 members in Jakarta if the security situation in Thailand does not allow it to be done there as planned.
"Indonesia hopes Thailand can still host the 14th ASEAN summit on December 17-18 to formalize the charter. However, if it cannot, then at least the foreign ministers could meet at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta to do so," Antara news agency quoted President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as saying here Monday.
The president said the ASEAN charter should be formalized soon as there was a need to hold the 14th ASEAN summit as agreed at the13th ASEAN summit in Singapore last year.
The 14th Summit was also important to officially announce ASEAN' steps to overcome the global crisis as called for in the Chiang Mai Initiative.
On the Chiang Mai Initiative, Yudhoyono suggested that the ASEAN finance ministers discuss the matter in a meeting in Bali.
ASEAN member governments were discussing the holding of the 14th ASEAN Summit with the ASEAN Secretary General, Surin Pitsuwan, he said.
The ASEAN charter would be ASEAN's legal umbrella which has been ratified by all of its 10 member countries.
Thailand as the ASEAN chair of current period was scheduled to host the 14th ASEAN Summit on December 17-18 in Chiang Mai.
However, the situation inside the country after the siege of Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang international airports by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) have given rise to speculation that Bangkok may have to postpone the meeting.
ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan was reported to visit Bangkok to obtain certainty about the Thai government's preparations for the 14th ASEAN summit.
Source:Xinhua
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