Cambodia irritated over invitation

Cambodia irritated over invitation

CAMBODIA: Foreign ministry has expressed its irritation over an upcoming ASEAN meeting on international terrorism which it said it had not been informed about or invited to.

The ministry's permanent secretary Chem Widhya said in Phnom Penh late Monday that it had learned about the meeting, due to be held by the end of November, through Thai media reports.

"We are surprised that we have not received the information through diplomatic channels," he said.

Thai Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai told the Thai press from the APEC meeting in Shanghai that Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) ministers would discuss how to respond to the terrorist attacks on the United States.

He said in Monday's newspapers that although Brunei currently chairs the regional grouping, the meeting could be held in Thailand. Originally scheduled for Oct. 15, it would now take place before the end of November. --AFP