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Published on November 15, 2007

On November 7, the NLA delayed approval after members expressed doubts about details of the blueprint, giving rise to fears that Thailand would be embarrassed in front the other nine Asean members because of the prime minister's inability to sign the document.

Under Article 190 of the new Constitution, the government is required to seek parliamentary approval before signing agreements with foreign countries or entering into any international negotiations. Yesterday's approval was a streamlined consensus, because of the urgency of the situation.

The signing of the blueprint will take place next Tuesday during the 13th Asean summit, which begins in Singapore next Monday. Prime Minister Surayud will head the Thai delegation.

Assembly member Pramon Sutivong, chairman of the NLA's AEC Blueprint Subcommittee, said the NLA had approved the prime minister's travel to Singapore for the signing. It agreed that Thailand had to sign the AEC blueprint, because it was a plan to develop the Kingdom's growth along with that of other members in the region.

"Thailand was one of the Asean leaders that originally proposed the AEC," he said. "The country needs to sign the agreement, in order to preserve our status in Asean."

Thailand wrapped up its commitment to the Asean Economic Community proposal two years ago. Under the proposal, the 10 members of the Southeast Asian regional grouping are committed to integrating their economic development by 2015.

The blueprint is a road map for assisting efforts to make Asean a single market and a single production base, enhancing Asean's competitiveness, promote equitable economic development in the region and integrating the Asean economy into the world economy.

Pramon also suggested the government send a team of observers to the signing ceremony. He said this would ensure that the agreement created fair practices for the Kingdom, because implementation of the Asean Free-Trade Area had created some difficulties regarding trade liberalisation among Asean's members.

Petchanet Pratruangkrai

 The Nation