Cambodia denies PM called for Thailand to give up ASEAN chair

PHNOM PENH, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Minister of Information and government spokesman Khieu Kanharith denied reports made by the Bangkok Post that Prime Minister Hun Sen had called on Thailand to give up its temporary chairmanship of ASEAN, national media reported Wednesday.

"Prime Minister Hun Sen never ... made any comment that would impact Thailand's position as chair of ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations)," Khieu Kanharith was quoted as saying in a statement released Tuesday, according to the Phnom Penh Post.

The statement said that Hun Sen's comments only related to Thailand's ability to host a forthcoming ASEAN summit in light of current political troubles.

Hun Sen had no intention of disrespecting Thailand but was addressing a broader issue of concern for all ASEAN members, the statement said.

Khieu Kanharith was responding to a Bangkok Post report claiming that Hun Sen had called on Thailand to abandon its chairmanship of ASEAN in favor of Singapore or Vietnam.

The article added that it was "unusual" for ASEAN countries to comment on the internal disputes of their fellow members.

The Cambodian government only wants to see the political situation in Thailand return to normal in order to guarantee peace and harmony among ASEAN members, the statement said.

ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Editor: Bi Mingxin