Bangkok - Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama will begin the traditional new minister`s trip around Asean with a visit to Singapore - a visit that takes on added significance with reports deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra is there.
Mr Noppadon will go to the city-state on Monday and stay there until Thursday, an official said.
Until he was sworn into the cabinet early this month, Mr Noppadon was a lead lawyer and spokesman for the ex-prime minister and his family in Bangkok.
The announcement of Mr Noppadon`s trip came after a local newspaper "reported" that Mr Thaksin is in Singapore and planned to return to Thailand on Valentine`s Day. Mr Noppadon was among those who denied the report.
The foreign minister insisted on Thursday he has no plan to meet with Mr Thaksin during his visit to Singapore. He admitted having talked to his former boss occasionally on private matters.
The Foreign Ministry earlier said Mr Noppadon`s first foreign trip would be to Laos. But the trip was postponed because he was needed in Bangkok.
By leaving on Monday, Mr Noppadon misses the announcement of government policy and parliamentary debate, which begin on the same day.
Source: www.bangkokpost.com (15 Februari 2008)
