Bangkok--Jul 4--MFA
On 10 July 2008, Minister of Foreign Affairs Noppadon Pattama announced his resignation from the position, effective 14 July 2008.
At a press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Minister recapped the achievements of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during his five-month tenure. Thailand had succeeded in regaining the confidence of its major partners and neighbours. It was resuming a leading role in regional and international affairs, including providing relief for Cyclone Nargis victims, in close collaboration with ASEAN and the United Nations, and preparing to assume the chairmanship of ASEAN in late July. The Ministry had protected and promoted the interests of Thai nationals, with Thai embassies on the forefront of efforts to explore trade and investment opportunities abroad. The Ministry was also planning to establish a citizens’ advice center to provide advice to Thai citizens planning to work or travel abroad.
The Minister also spoke on the Ministry’s efforts regarding Cambodia’s application to list the Temple of Preah Vihear as a World Heritage Site. The issue, held over from the previous administration, required that the Ministry urgently addressed it. Cambodia’s application of 2006 had included areas over which there were overlapping territorial claims between the two countries, and inscription of the site as proposed by Cambodia would have risked compromising Thailand’s sovereignty claims over the disputed area.
The Minister insisted that the Ministry had exercised its utmost effort to protect the country’s territorial rights and sovereignty, This was done transparently, in good faith, and with no conflict of interest. Negotiations involved on the Thai side not only the Foreign Ministry’s Treaties and Legal Affairs as well as East Asia Departments, but also the Defense Ministry’s Royal Thai Survey Department. The work was carried out carefully and systematically: the matter forwarded to the National Security Council and approved by the Cabinet. The successful inscription of the Temple was due to its own intrinsic value, not to Thailand’s support or the Joint Communique between Thailand and Cambodia, as Thailand had asked that the Joint Communique be excluded from the deliberations of the World Heritage Committee. Thailand had also insisted on reserving its rights as stated in the letter from then-Foreign Minister Thanat Khoman to the United Nations Secretary General in 1962.
The Minister said that, ever since he was appointed by His Majesty the King to the position, he had performed his duties faithfully and diligently, with successful results being his only goal. However, given the problems that had arisen, he was taking responsibility and showing his spirit by resigning from the position effective Monday, 14 July 2008. Although he had done no wrong, he recognized that the country was more important than a political position. He thanked the Prime Minister and Foreign and Defense Ministries officials, including the Army Commander and those of the Royal Thai Survey Department, for their professionalism and courage, the public for its sympathy and support, and the media for their intelligent and unbiased reporting.
The Minister affirmed that he would continue working for the Thai people, for the country and for the Thai monarchy.
Prime Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Press Division, Department of Information Tel.(02) 643-5170
Fax. (02) 643-5169 E-mail : div0704@mfa.go.th End.
-PM-
On 10 July 2008, Minister of Foreign Affairs Noppadon Pattama announced his resignation from the position, effective 14 July 2008.
At a press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Minister recapped the achievements of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during his five-month tenure. Thailand had succeeded in regaining the confidence of its major partners and neighbours. It was resuming a leading role in regional and international affairs, including providing relief for Cyclone Nargis victims, in close collaboration with ASEAN and the United Nations, and preparing to assume the chairmanship of ASEAN in late July. The Ministry had protected and promoted the interests of Thai nationals, with Thai embassies on the forefront of efforts to explore trade and investment opportunities abroad. The Ministry was also planning to establish a citizens’ advice center to provide advice to Thai citizens planning to work or travel abroad.
The Minister also spoke on the Ministry’s efforts regarding Cambodia’s application to list the Temple of Preah Vihear as a World Heritage Site. The issue, held over from the previous administration, required that the Ministry urgently addressed it. Cambodia’s application of 2006 had included areas over which there were overlapping territorial claims between the two countries, and inscription of the site as proposed by Cambodia would have risked compromising Thailand’s sovereignty claims over the disputed area.
The Minister insisted that the Ministry had exercised its utmost effort to protect the country’s territorial rights and sovereignty, This was done transparently, in good faith, and with no conflict of interest. Negotiations involved on the Thai side not only the Foreign Ministry’s Treaties and Legal Affairs as well as East Asia Departments, but also the Defense Ministry’s Royal Thai Survey Department. The work was carried out carefully and systematically: the matter forwarded to the National Security Council and approved by the Cabinet. The successful inscription of the Temple was due to its own intrinsic value, not to Thailand’s support or the Joint Communique between Thailand and Cambodia, as Thailand had asked that the Joint Communique be excluded from the deliberations of the World Heritage Committee. Thailand had also insisted on reserving its rights as stated in the letter from then-Foreign Minister Thanat Khoman to the United Nations Secretary General in 1962.
The Minister said that, ever since he was appointed by His Majesty the King to the position, he had performed his duties faithfully and diligently, with successful results being his only goal. However, given the problems that had arisen, he was taking responsibility and showing his spirit by resigning from the position effective Monday, 14 July 2008. Although he had done no wrong, he recognized that the country was more important than a political position. He thanked the Prime Minister and Foreign and Defense Ministries officials, including the Army Commander and those of the Royal Thai Survey Department, for their professionalism and courage, the public for its sympathy and support, and the media for their intelligent and unbiased reporting.
The Minister affirmed that he would continue working for the Thai people, for the country and for the Thai monarchy.
Prime Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Press Division, Department of Information Tel.(02) 643-5170
Fax. (02) 643-5169 E-mail : div0704@mfa.go.th End.
-PM-