The cabinet met on Tuesday, November 12, 2013. Some of the decisions are as follows:
The Cabinet acknowledged result of the promotion of eco-car production (second phase) as proposed by Ministry of Industry.
Gist
1. Ministry of Industry conducted a tactic on ?Direction and Opportunity? in the development of Thai automotive through promotion of eco-car production which ended in 2010. Under this tactic, 5 entrepreneurs received investment promotion with the production capacity of over 585,000 cars per year. The tactic proved success beyond expectation.
Following suggestion from Ministry of Commerce, the Cabinet,
1. Agreed with the essence of draft Trade Agreement between the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand and the Royal Government of Bhutan.
2. Assigned Commerce Minister or an authorized person to be the signatory of the draft Trade Agreement between the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand and the Royal Government of Bhutan.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs is to issue a Full Power for the signatory following Office of the Council of State?s opinion.
Gist of draft agreement covers similar content and economic cooperation with those in the agreements Thailand previously signed with other countries.
Following suggestion from Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Cabinet,
1. Agreed with the establishment of Consulate of People's Republic of China in Phuket, which will be under supervision of the Consulate of People's Republic of China in Songkhla, and will be responsible for 3 consular areas, namely, Phuket, Krabi and Phang Nga.
2. Agreed with draft exchange note on the establishment of Consulate of People?s Republic of China in Phuket between Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Thailand and People?s Republic of China.
Following suggestion from Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Cabinet,
1. Agreed with the Chair?s statement, dated October 23, 2013, for the eleventh ASEM Foreign Ministry?s Meeting (ASEM FMM 11).
2. Approved Foreign Minister, as leader of Thai representative, or an authorized person to sign the document mention in 1.
3. Should necessity arise to amend the document in parts that that will not affect gist nor result in country?s loss of benefit, Ministry of Foreign Affairs may proceed without Cabinet?s approval.
The draft Chair Statement is a framework for promotion of understanding and cooperation among ASEM members. Gist of draft is to express visions and policies on the strengthening of relations and expansion of politic, economic, social and cultural cooperation between Asia and Europe, as well as comments on important international issues.
Following suggestion from Ministry of Tourism and Sports, the Cabinet,
1. Approved for the preparation and signing of a letter of intent on sustainable tourism cooperation between Thailand and EU. Should necessity arise to amend draft letter of intent in inessential parts, Ministry of Tourism and Sports may proceed without Cabinet?s further approval.
2. Approved Tourism and Sports Minister as a signatory of the aforementioned letter of intent which will be signed on November 16, 2013 during the visit to Thailand of Vice-President of EU Commission and European Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship, Mr. Antonio Tajani and delegation.
The Cabinet acknowledged the Secretariat of the Cabinet?s proposals as follows:
1. Agreed to give a notice to President of the National Assembly requesting for the convening of the National Assembly for the Government to clarify on ICJ?s ruling on Preah Vihear which is in accordance with Section 179 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand.
2. Acknowledged the report of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul and the Thai legal team on Preah Vihear case.
3. Assigned the legal team to study the ruling?s significant details and come up with opinions and suggestions in order for the Government to determine the next step of action. Thailand and Cambodia, then, must negotiate and discuss under existing bilateral mechanism to settle the dispute and seek mutually acceptable solution, while adhering to proper legal procedure and the Thai Constitution.
4. The military, police and security forces are to remain along the border area for their peacekeeping mission as have been to protect national sovereignty and ensure safety of the local citizens.
Gist
The Secretariat of the Cabinet reported that,
Following the ICJ?s verdict on Preah Vihear case on November 11, 2013 at 1600hrs, Prime Minister ordered a special Cabinet meeting to be held on the same day at the Green Room, Thai Khu Fah Building, Government House, and invited security-related Deputy Prime Ministers and Ministers, Commanders of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police and concerned Chiefs of government offices to attend the meeting. Gist as follows:
1. The Cabinet perceived that the ICJ?s verdict on Preah Vihear case is a sensitive issue, which concerned national sovereignty and interests and is in people?s attention. This is a significant matter of the administration of state affairs, thus, opinions from the National Assembly should also be taken into account.
2. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul and the Thai legal team stated that the ICJ?s verdict emphasizes the need for both countries to hold talks. Key issues are as follows:
2.1 ICJ accepted Thailand?s defense and decided to rule within limits of original judgment in 1962.
2.2 ICJ accepted Thailand?s defense and confirmed that original judgment in 1962 was not engaged in delimiting the frontier. This means Cambodia?s request for ICJ to consider its claim over the disputed 4.6 square km. area was inadmissible. ICJ also did not rule that the 1962 verdict bound Thailand with the 1:200,000-scale Dangrek map.
2.3 ICJ considered that there was a need for interpretation of meaning and scope of the phrase ?vicinity on Cambodian territory? in the 1962 judgment only, and considered that disputed area was small and an easily identifiable geographical feature, that is, the Preah Vihear promontory. ICJ did not accept Cambodia?s interpretation of ?vicinity? which included also the hill of Phu Makheu as well. The vicinity of Preah Vihear will later be detailed by both countries under the existing bilateral mechanism.
2.4 ICJ emphasized importance of cooperation between both parties in protection and development of Preah Vihear as world heritage.
--Cabinet Meeting (Yingluck Shinawatra) November 12, 2013--