Thaksin Shinawatra, Thailand's ousted prime minister, may return to the country as long as he does not get involved in any political movement, his successor has said.
Surayud Chulanont, who took over from Thaksin after a bloodless coup in September, said the two men must "have a conversation" if Thaksin wants to return.
But Thaksin said on Monday that he would not be returning immediately.
In a CNN interview over the weekend, the former prime minister had said that if he were allowed to return home, he would not re-enter politics but work in academia and for charity and spend time with his family.
Surayud told a news conference on Monday: "Mr Thaksin isn't barred from returning to the country, so if he wants to come back, we need to have a conversation.
"After he returns, he must not be involved in any political movement because such movement may bring trouble."
Thaksin's interview was not aired in Thailand because the country's cable operator co-operated with a military request not to do so.
The Council for National Security (CNS), as the coup leaders call themselves, has set up a committee to investigate alleged wrongdoings committed by Thaksin, his cabinet ministers and their families, but they have announced no evidence yet.
Thaksin has said he does not want his return to cause unrest in the country but is willing to go back to defend himself against corruption charges.