After SEAG, no cold war between GMA, Thaksin

KUALA LUMPUR (via PLDT) — Despite a minor hiccup in Philippine-Thai relations, President Arroyo and Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra remain friendly toward each other.

The President and Thaksin did not give each other the cold shoulder when they met here for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit, despite Thailand’s allegations that the Philippines cheated in the recently concluded 23rd Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) in Manila.

The two leaders were seen chatting and laughing while sitting on separate sofas during one of their meetings.

The video footage was shown at the press center here although their conversation could not be heard.

Philippine officials said the diplomatic tensions spawned by Thai officials’ allegations of unfair judging in some events during the SEA Games should now be water under the bridge. These comments reportedly included Thaksin’s statements, which were published on the Internet and in Thai daily newspapers.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo said the Thai foreign ministry has issued a statement clarifying that Thaksin’s statements were taken out of context.

Thai officials said Thaksin was not referring to a specific country when he said the focus of SEA Games should be camaraderie rather than winning gold medals.

Thai officials even said they would be a better SEA Games host in 2007, when the games will be held in Thailand.

"Panis na ’yang story (That story is stale)," Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Policy Sonia Brady told reporters when asked about the controversy.

She said the Thaksin flap was just a ripple in the long-standing bilateral relations between the Philippines and Thailand, which, she added, remain intact.

Brady said efforts should now be focused on areas of cooperation and making Philippine-Thai ties even stronger: "There’s no break of friendship or relationship. I think it’s best forgotten." — Aurea Calica