"They are closely following the event on 30th May as it is an important event in Thailand," said Nitya, after having a bilateral meeting with his Singaporean counterpart George Yeo on the sidelines at the 8th Asem Foreign Minister Meeting in Hamburg, which ends today.

Besides the political parties dissolution, Singapore is also closely monitoring the political development in Thailand, particularly in the deep South.

Nitya said he assured his counterpart the current government would exercise only peaceful and patient methods in restoring peace in the region.

The two also discussed the development of the Asean Charter, which is scheduled to be finalised at the upcoming ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM) in the Philippines in July.

Nitya also had bilateral meetings with Deputy Foreign Minister of Portugal, Manuel Lobo Antunes, and Foreign Minister of Hungary Kinga Goncz, on the same day. Both were briefed about the political development in Thailand before and after the military coup last September. The Portuguese counterpart expressed a better understanding about the situation after the brief, said Nitya, adding that it was a significant move for Thailand as Portugal will hold the EU presidency in the latter half of 2007.

The EU had the toughest response to the military coup last year.

The group, led by Finland then, issued two statements voicing their dissatisfaction over the political situation in Thailand and urged the military appointed government to lift martial law and hold a general election as soon as possible.

Nitya also raised the matter of the possible levying by the EU of higher import tariffs on Thai sweet corn and asked the Hungarian side to consider the adverse effects such measures would have on Thai agricultural producers.

By Sopaporn Kurz

The Nation

Hamburg, Germany