U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton plans to visit Thailand in July to attend the ASEAN ( Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Regional Forum (ARF) in Bangkok, Michael Turner spokesman of the U.S. Embassy in Thailand said on Monday, the website of The Nation newspaper reported.
Turner's announcement came after a claim made by an opposition Puea Thai Party MP that Clinton avoided visiting Thailand during her recent trip to Asia due to security concerns.
Earlier, Prompong Nopparit, Puea Thai Party spokesman said Clinton decided not to visit Thailand because she was not happy with the seizures of Bangkok's two airports by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) protesters late last year, and particularly with the appointment of Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, who has been perceived as a PAD supporter.
Speaking to Thai News Agency, Turner said Thailand was not in the Clinton's itinerary to Asia during her recent trip and that has nothing to do with the Thai opposition party's claims, The Nation's website reported.
Last week U.S. Secretary of State Clinton visited Japan, Indonesia, South Korea and China.