GMA to seek Thailand’s return to normalcy during new PM’s visit

President Arroyo will convey the Philippines’ and the international community’s desire for Thailand to return to democracy as its new prime minister, Surayud Chulanont, visits Manila tomorrow.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said Surayud would be in Manila for a very short time but would have a bilateral talk with Mrs. Arroyo before the dinner at the Malacañang Palace.

"You can be sure that the President will express the desire of many countries for restoration of political normalcy in Thailand expeditiously," Bunye said over radio station dzRB.

Bunye said other issues that will enhance bilateral relations would also be discussed.

He said the Philippines’ ties with Thailand had been traditionally warm and strong and this was expected to continue as neighbors and fellow members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN).

Surayud will arrive at around 4 p.m. tomorrow from Indonesia. He has also visited Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia for the traditional familiarization tour of new heads of states and governments of ASEAN.

Mrs. Arroyo made a similar tour after she took office in 2001 following the popular uprising that toppled Joseph Estrada.

The Thai government said Surayud’s visit seeks to improve understanding on his government role and function during his one-year term and strengthen ties with neighboring countries.

Mrs. Arroyo sent a congratulatory message to the new Thai leader last Oct. 3.

Earlier, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said Mrs. Arroyo would welcome Surayud.

"It doesn’t follow though that we agree with their methodologies in changing their leaders but we will have to respect their own processes. We don’t have anything to do with what happened in Thailand," Ermita said.

"You can be sure that the President will just try to let them know that we are calling on member states of the ASEAN to go by the tenets and objectives of ASEAN so that we will continue to follow the roadmap towards progress in this part of the world," he said.

Surayud was chosen by the leaders of last month’s coup d’ etat in Thailand. Thailand’s revered monarch King Bhumibol Adulyadej approved the appointment of the army commander general and also endorsed an interim constitution giving the military in Thailand considerable powers.

The leader of Thailand’s Democrat Party, Abhisit Vejjajiva, says a priority for the new prime minister should be to lift restrictions on political parties and the media imposed after the coup.

The Thai military staged a bloodless coup against former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on Sept. 19. The coup followed months of political turmoil fueled by allegations of abuse of power and corruption.