The secretariat of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is pushing for postponement of the 14th ASEAN Summit to be held in Chiang Mai next week, but Thailand is hesitant to postpone the meeting lest it derail or “complicate” plans laid out in the ASEAN Charter that will take effect on Dec. 15.

With the recent ratification of the ASEAN Charter, the regional bloc expects to push through with plans to establish a single market in six years.

The leaders of the 10 ASEAN member-countries are also scheduled to discuss with counterparts from six dialogue partners and heads of multilateral institutions a package of strategies and action plans to prepare the ASEAN for the impact of the global financial crisis.

The ASEAN groups together the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. Dialogue partners in East Asia are China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand.

Representatives of the United Nations, the UN Council on Trade and Development, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fun, the World Trade Organizations and the Asian Development Bank are also expected at the Chiang Mai meetings.

ASEAN secretary general Surin Pitsuwan said in a statement he understood the hesitation of the besieged Thai leaders, but gave assurance that a postponement “will not negatively affect ASEAN work plans too much.”

Surin, who is based in Jakarta, flew to Penang in Malaysia and traveled by land to the Thai-Malaysian border en route to Bangkok to consult with the hosts.

Air traffic to and from Bangkok has been made impossible by antigovernment protesters who occupied and shut down the city’s two major airports.

“There are many declarations, agreements and MOUs [memorandums of understanding] that await endorsement at the summit,” he explained. “Many important meetings, activities and projects are also being lined up under the Thai chairmanship in the coming year.”

Surin said the ASEAN could rearrange its work plans if Thailand decided to postpone it “for a few weeks.”

“A delay would enable the secretariat to prepare better for the 14th Summit,” he said.

“This will be the first summit with the ASEAN Charter in place,” he added.

Thai Deputy Prime Minister Sompong Amornvivat said on Friday a decision on the matter would be made on Dec. 2.