BANGKOK, 28 March 2012 – Thailand has pledged to help turn the Southeast Asian region and all of its 10 members into a drug-free zone.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ ASEAN Department Director-General Arthayudh Srisamoot said on Tuesday that there will only be leaders of the 10-member ASEAN bloc present at the upcoming annual summit. The 20th ASEAN Summit is scheduled during April 2nd and 4th in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Mr. Arthayudh revealed that the focus of the gathering will be on the many pending issues within the region, including the progress on the realization of 3 main pillars of the ASEAN Community, the regional drug clampdown and the sustainable preparation and management of natural disaster.
He added that all attending leaders will be signing 3 main documents at the summit. They include such documents as the Phnom Penh Declaration on “ASEAN; One Community, One Goal” and the draft Declaration on the Drug-Free ASEAN 2015, which is being pushed by Thailand.
The MFA’s ASEAN Department Director-General went on to say that Thailand has planned to stress its determination on the eradication of narcotics and to encourage member countries to make the issue a national agenda.
In addition, ASEAN leaders will hold several meetings with representatives from various parliaments, public sector and youth groups to discuss the future of ASEAN and their contribution to help the bloc achieve its goals.
