Chiangmai (Mizzima) — The 14th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit which was postponed in early December will be held next year before the end of February according to the Thai government's official website on Tuesday.

The official web page of Thai Government Public Relations Department, office of the Prime Minister today announced there has been an agreement between ASEAN Foreign Ministers for the meeting to be fixed for February.

"The Foreign Ministers of ASEAN Member States, at a special meeting in Jakarta on December 15, agreed that the summit will take place in Thailand before the end of February 2009," said the Office of the Prime Minister on its official website.

"Concerning the 14th ASEAN Summit to be hosted by Thailand next year, the new Prime Minister expressed his full support for the operations of Thailand as Chair of the ASEAN," said the government.

It continued, "He agreed to the Foreign Ministry's recommendation that the 14th ASEAN Summit be held at the earliest opportunity as soon as a new government is able to fully perform its duties."

Initially, the summit was postponed to next year March, whereas it was originally scheduled for December 15 to 18, due to political hostilities in the country between the opposition party People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and former Prime Minister Somchai Wongsavat and his People Power Party (PPP).

The decision came a day after the new 27th Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, leader of the Democrat Party was appointed to lead the country.