He said he would discuss the matter with premier Thaksin which he did after our return from a BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting in Chiang Mai. He told me premier Thaksin gave him the same advice as I had done. That was how the process of the Thai government's nomination of Dr Surakiart as candidate for the UNSG started. Surin was the choice of the Selection Committee appointed by the Thai MFA, of which I was a member, to find a Thai candidate for the Asean secretary–general position. I noted the picture in Dec 14 Post showing our prime minister squeezing the knee of our deputy premier.

Source: Bangkok Post December 14, 2017 23:26 UTC