PM: Ready to resign after solving political, economic problems

SINGAPORE, June 22 (TNA) – Visiting Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Monday he is willing to step down after solving political turbulence and economic problems in the country and completing his chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
 
Speaking to business executives during his one-day official visit to the island nation, Mr. Abhisit said a general election would be held after the three primary problems are settled.

“It’s not difficult to dissolve the House and return power to the people,” the prime minister said.
 
Mr. Abhisit will complete his ASEAN chairmanship at the end of this year.
 
Reasserting that the overall situation in Thailand is quite peaceful now, the prime minister said his government still must more quickly resolve the political, economic and southern insurgency problems so that “peace can return to the country.”
 
He said his government has issued two programmes of economic stimulus measures which he is confident will turn the economy around to reenter positive performance in the fourth quarter this year.
 
The government will boost tourism and public utilities and Thailand will remain the world’s largest food exporter, Mr. Abhisit said.
 
Mr. Abhisit was scheduled to hold talks with his Singapore counterpart Lee Hsien Loong, pay a courtesy call on President S.R. Nathan and confer with Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore’s first prime minister, before returning to Bangkok late Monday. (TNA)