FIDF debt to be cleared in 25 years

 He noted that under options submitted to Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong's consideration, all intend to clear the debt within 25 years.
 He also insisted that such clearing would not involve the foreign reserves.
 Prasarn and Kittiratt held a closed-door meeting on Jan 30 over the best solutions to handle the principal and interest repayment on the FIDF debt. Then, Kittiratt was informed of the Monetary Policy Committee's concern over the discrepancy of commercial and state-owned banks as the latter are omitted from burden sharing. Lack of level-playing field could lead to ineffectiveness of monetary policies.
 "We proposed several options. All contain the pros and cons, for the deputy prime minister's review. Then, we would discuss with banks as they would be affected. There should be a meeting, when the Finance Ministry completes the review," he said today.
 Kittiratt said on Jan 30 that the issue would be finalised within 1-2 weeks.
 Prasarn added today that all the preparation process would continue, though the Democrat Party has filed for the Constitution Court's interpretation of an executive decree involving the debt transfer. He noted that the process would stop when the Court agrees to proceed accordingly to the Democrats' request.