On 4 May 2012, Dr. Amal Mussa Hussain Ali Al-Rubaye, Ambassador of Iraq to Thailand (Residence in Malaysia), paid a courtesy call on Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul on the occasion of the former’s assumption of office. Both sides exchanged views on a range of issues of mutual interests, gist as follows;
Both sides agreed to elevate bilateral relations. Foreign Minister Surapong expressed Thailand’s readiness to facilitate and support the Iraqi Ambassador to enhance bilateral cooperation between the two countries. With regard to economic relations, Thailand was ready to expand economic cooperation, especially in the export of rice to Iraq, as Iraqis enjoy consuming Thai rice, according to the Iraqi Ambassador. In addition, the Foreign Minister expressed Thailand’s readiness to assist Iraq’s restoration process by way of investing in construction sector, and to provide technical assistance to Iraq as well.
With respect to the re-sending diplomatic staff to the Thai Embassy in Baghdad, Thailand is still considering the possibility of re-sending its diplomats to Iraq. At present, Thailand has assigned the Thai Embassy in Amman to take charge of Iraq. By the same token, Iraq is looking at the prospects of opening its Embassy in Thailand. The Iraqi Ambassador informed the Thai Foreign Minister that the situation in Iraq has improved and invited the Thai side to invest in the country. In this regard, Thailand is considering dates to host the 4th Thai-Iraqi Joint Trade Commission (JTC).
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