webfact Posted October 4, 2013 Share Posted October 4, 2013 US SHUTDOWNAsean accepts Obama's decisionThe Nation, AgenciesThai Foreign Ministry says president's absence unfortunateBANGKOK: -- Asean said yesterday that US President Barack Obama's decision not to attend the upcoming Apec and ASEAN summits, as well as to cancel bilateral visits to the region, was understandable.Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said Washington had informed him of Obama's decision. The two-day Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit will be held in Bali from Monday."President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has expressed his full understanding of the situation as we have all been closely following the developments in Washington," Marty said.The White House has issued a statement saying that Obama was cancelling his trip to Southeast Asia next week because of the government shutdown. Obama's administration has come to a partial halt since Tuesday because of disputes with Congress over the budget."The president made this decision based on the difficulty in moving forward with foreign travel in the face of a shutdown, and his determination to continue pressing his case that Republicans should immediately allow a vote to reopen the government," the statement said."He expressed his regret that the ongoing government shutdown in the United States will prevent him from attending the summit."Obama was due to attend the Apec meeting, followed by the ASEAN summit in Brunei on Wednesday and Thursday.Arthayudh Srisamoot, director of the Thai Foreign Ministry's ASEAN Affairs Department, said Obama placed a lot of importance on the region as he has never missed an ASEAN summit since taking office five years ago."It is unfortunate that he cannot join this time, but it is understandable due to the tough situation in the US," Arthayudh said.Obama was also scheduled to meet ASEAN leaders at a separate US-Asean summit in Brunei next Wednesday to reaffirm his country's policies and cooperation with the region. The US wants to expand its economic ties with ASEAN by having a non-binding document to facilitate liberalisation of trade and investment in the region.Asean foreign ministers met with US Secretary of State John Kerry late last month in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly to prepare for Obama's visit.At the meeting, Kerry confirmed that the US also wanted to enhance people-to-people relations in the region. By nixing the visit, Obama will also be missing the chance to rub shoulders with leaders including Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russia's Vladimir Putin, key players in geopolitical crises from Syria to North Korea.Bilateral visits cancelledThe cancellation also includes bilateral visits to the Philippines and Malaysia, but the statement said Kerry would visit those two countries on Obama's behalf.The White House said Obama had called Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and Philippine President Benigno Aquino to tell them "that he will not be able to go forward" with the official visits.The statement said Obama had reaffirmed the United States' "close partnership" with Malaysia and its "strong alliance" with the Philippines, vowing to travel to the two countries later in his term.-- The Nation 2013-10-05 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post richard10365 Posted October 4, 2013 Popular Post Share Posted October 4, 2013 I can go if he needs someone to speak for the US. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jalansanitwong Posted October 5, 2013 Share Posted October 5, 2013 Its interesting that most of these Asian summit talk fests are held in Bali. Would it have something to do with Bali having beautiful pristine beaches no jet ski thugs and no rabbies infested dogs ripping chunks of flesh off you ? I cant see ASEAN ever coming to the Gulf of Smiles. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pimay1 Posted October 5, 2013 Share Posted October 5, 2013 Its interesting that most of these Asian summit talk fests are held in Bali. Would it have something to do with Bali having beautiful pristine beaches no jet ski thugs and no rabbies infested dogs ripping chunks of flesh off you ? I cant see ASEAN ever coming to the Gulf of Smiles. And they don't have to be concerned about a mob of idiots invading their summit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redhawk Posted October 5, 2013 Share Posted October 5, 2013 Accepting something like the headlines says is something different than to understand something! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post GentlemanJim Posted October 5, 2013 Popular Post Share Posted October 5, 2013 Note to Thai PM - When there is trouble at home, real Political leaders cancel travel plans, stay at home and try and sort things out. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaxLee Posted October 5, 2013 Share Posted October 5, 2013 No problem, says Surapong, Shinawatra's little pet, there is still our big brother China, screw you Falangland... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thhMan Posted October 5, 2013 Share Posted October 5, 2013 Never heard that one.... Normally its.. Cant go, brushing my hair or My aunty passed away.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hellodolly Posted October 5, 2013 Share Posted October 5, 2013 Its interesting that most of these Asian summit talk fests are held in Bali. Would it have something to do with Bali having beautiful pristine beaches no jet ski thugs and no rabbies infested dogs ripping chunks of flesh off you ? I cant see ASEAN ever coming to the Gulf of Smiles. I think they did and got mobbed in Pattaya by red shirt supporters of Thaksin Shinawatra Note to Thai PM - When there is trouble at home, real Political leaders cancel travel plans, stay at home and try and sort things out. alt=thumbsup.gif width=25 height=19> Great idea but wasted on a shopaholic. Besides she is just a conduit for the real Prime Minister in Dubai. He will continue to skype his instructions into the cabinet meetings. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bagwan Posted October 5, 2013 Share Posted October 5, 2013 Accepting something like the headlines says is something different than to understand something! I'm so happy that they have accepted his decision. WW3 averted? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Papadragon Posted October 5, 2013 Popular Post Share Posted October 5, 2013 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
expat888 Posted October 5, 2013 Share Posted October 5, 2013 I can go if he needs someone to speak for the US. You would probably do a better job. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kimamey Posted October 5, 2013 Share Posted October 5, 2013 I can go if he needs someone to speak for the US. Well if you get accepted and you need advice on how to pack for an oversea trip I know someone whose a bit of an expert. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spirit47 Posted October 5, 2013 Share Posted October 5, 2013 No money for trips, Airforce 1 tank is empty... Hurry up FED, print new money... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Papadragon Posted October 5, 2013 Share Posted October 5, 2013 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackr Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 US shutdown: Asean accepts Obama's decision Phew, thank god for that. Imagine the trauma for the most powerful country in the world if a bunch of third world countries didn't accept it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phitsanulokjohn Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 Asean accepts Obama's decision? Did they have any other choices then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gemini81 Posted October 7, 2013 Share Posted October 7, 2013 I can go if he needs someone to speak for the US. You would probably do a better job. If you don't need a teleprompt and aren't a puppet of the world bankers, prolly would do a better job! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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