Thai Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thuagsuban pledged Friday afternoon that the government will ensure security for the ASEAN Summit and Related Summits to proceed as planned.

Thai anti-government protesters march towards the Royal Cliff Beach Resort, the venue of the 14th ASEAN Summits and Related Summits, in Pattaya, Thailand, April 10, 2009. The ASEAN summits are scheduled for April 10-12 in Pattaya, a resort city some 145 km southeast to Bangkok.[Yang Xiaohong/Xinhua]

In an interview with reporters in the lobby of the Royal Cliff Beach Resort, Suthep said that he would try to reason with the red shirts to end the blockade of the meeting venue in Pattaya.

He did not specify the next step if talks failed. He only said certain procedures might have to be adjusted in order to open up access for government leaders to enter the meeting venue.