Mr. Sura Gaintanasilp,
Interim President of MCOT Public Company Limited,
Mr. Etienne Cl?ment, Deputy Director of UNESCO Bangkok,
Mr. Kemal ?zt?rk, President of the Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies and Director-General of Anadolu Agency,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
On behalf of the Government of Thailand and Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, I warmly welcome all of you to Bangkok.
December is a month of great joy and significance for Thais as we join together to celebrate the Birthday Anniversary of His Majesty the King on the 5th of this month. It is therefore a good sign that the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies or OANA is taking place during this auspicious period.
Over the past five decades, OANA, which was created in Bangkok on the initiative of UNESCO, has become the leading organization for facilitating a freer flow of news and information in the Asia and Pacific region while increasing understanding between its nations and peoples.
This is most timely when political and economic poles are shifting to this region. More importantly, in this age of globalization, prompt access to accurate information has assumed paramount importance. Access to information is crucial if our peoples are to adapt to all the changes taking place and remain competitive as our countries become increasingly integrated. At the same time, access to information is also key for our peoples' involvement in the formulation of policies and the governance of our countries, allowing our democracies to be truly participatory.
The fact that OANA has grown to encompass 44 news agencies from 35 countries reflects the organization’s professionalism, ethical standards and widespread acceptance as well as the importance of its goals. I therefore wish to congratulate the Organization for its success which was achieved through the cooperative efforts of all its members.
We must, however, not become complacent. As we gather here in Bangkok where OANA was born for its golden jubilee, it is an opportune moment for us to take stock of past accomplishments, progress achieved as well as challenges faced so that we can together chart the course of its future development. I am therefore pleased that these and other issues will be discussed during your roundtable meetings later today. To this end, rest assured of the Thai Government's continued support as we look ahead to the Organization's next fifty years.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Being in the news business, you must have read and seen a lot of reports about Thailand over the past year. Your presence here is therefore an opportune moment to see recent developments in the Kingdom for yourselves. Apart from our economic dynamism, politics in Thailand have taken a fresh turn since elections in July this year as we move towards becoming a full-fledged democracy. We have also been pressing ahead with reconciliation in order to cement stability and boost confidence among Thais and foreigners alike.
I wish to emphasize that the recent gains which Thailand has achieved have not been overshadowed by the recent floods. I believe you would have witnessed the resiliency of this Kingdom. The Government has attended to the people’s immediate needs and will seize this opportunity to make Thailand more disaster-resistant by implementing a long-term strategy for rehabilitation and reconstruction, including that of a comprehensive water management system. It is my hope that you would convey these encouraging developments to the world.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
As I conclude, I wish you all the best in your deliberations. I also hope that you will find some time to experience Thailand and enjoy our world renowned hospitality.
I now have the honour and pleasure of declaring open the 50th Anniversary Celebrations of the Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies.
Thank you.
For further information, please contact the Press Division, Department of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tel.02-6435170, Fax.02-6435169, E-mail: div0704@mfa.go.th