DPM:Over 40 countries support Thailand's Feb 2 general election

BANGKOK, December 14 (TNA) - Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Surapong Towichakchaikul says that more than 40 foreign countries have supported Thailand's new general election, set on February 2, 2014 in a Royal Decree issued on December 9. Surapong told the public in his address broadcast live on Saturday that the foreign allies include the United States, the 27-member European Union (EU), China and Russia. Surapong pointed out that the denial to join Thailand Reform Forum to be organized by the caretaker government at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre in Bangkok on December 15 by the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), led by Suthep Thugsuban, a former deputy prime minister of the Democrat Party, shows that the anti-government protest group is not open to others' opinions. The caretaker deputy premier cautioned if the PDRC could set up a government without any democratic election, Thailand would lose national credibility and the international community would no longer support the Kingdom, calling on those who back the PDRC’s plan for the establishment of a people’s council to take negative impacts on the nation into consideration. On Friday, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton called for all parties in Thailand to abide by democratic principles, avoid escalation and resolve their differences through peaceful means. Suthep and other PDRC leaders, however, participated in a forum organized by the Thai military at the Royal Thai Armed Forces' headquarters on the outskirts of Bangkok on Saturday afternoon, aimed at discussing a solution to the ongoing domestic political strife.(TNA)