Bangkok--Oct 7--MFA
On 6 October 2008, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sompong Amornvivat gave his first official news conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after returning from attending the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York last Friday. Gist as follows:
1. The DPM/Foreign Minister said that, as the Government had not yet made a policy statement to Parliament, he had to consider carefully what activities to undertake in New York, taking into account the relevant provisions of the Constitution. In this connection, of utmost importance was his chairing of the Informal ASEAN Meeting Ministers (IAMM) on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly given that Thailand was the present ASEAN Chair. In that capacity, the DPM/FM also took the lead in the meeting between the ASEAN Foreign Ministers and the UN Secretary-General and the UNGA President.
2. To avoid any concerns some parties may have, the DPM/FM also decided not to deliver Thailand’s statement in the general debate, nor to hold any bilateral meetings as they may entail making general policy statements or commitments, which may not be considered proper given that the Government had yet to make a policy statement to Parliament.
3. Regarding the Thai-Cambodian border incident that took place on 3 October 2008, the DPM/FM explained the sequence of events that occurred leading to the exchange of fire between Thai para-military rangers and a group of Cambodian soldiers. He reaffirmed that the incident took place in Thailand’s territory and that the Thai side had only returned fire in self-defence after the said Cambodian soldiers had started firing first. The DPM/FM said that this was a violation of the agreement reached during the Special Meeting of the Thailand-Cambodia Regional Committee Meeting on 13 August 2008, and of the agreement between both sides to exercise utmost restraint. The whole incident may have resulted from a misunderstanding and that the situation had now returned to normalcy. As for reports that two Thai para-military rangers had been injured by landmines in the same vicinity, the DPM/FM said that the landmines were likely placed there some time ago though this had to be verified.
4. These and other border issues may be discussed between both countries when the Prime Minister pays an official visit to the Kingdom of Cambodia on 13 October 2008. The DPM/FM also said that he was in the process of appointing an appropriate person to be the Thai Co-Chair of the Thai-Cambodian Joint Commission on Demarcation for Land Boundary (JBC), which would pave the way for its meeting in the near future. Parliament will also likely consider a negotiating framework soon after the Government presents its policy statement to Parliament.
5. The DPM/FM further mentioned that in the meeting with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the latter also said that it was better for Thailand and Cambodia to resolve their border issues using the bilateral framework.
6. As for his first official bilateral visit abroad as customary for incoming foreign ministers, the DPM/FM said that he would be visiting the Lao PDR first and that the Foreign Ministry was presently coordinating the relevant details.
7. In answer to a query about reports that former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra had sought political asylum in the United Kingdom, the DPM/FM said that the report had first to be verified. In principle, however, an individual had to right to seek asylum in another country and that it was up to the receiving country to consider the request. As for revocation of the former prime minister’s diplomatic passport, the DPM/FM said that the issue had been submitted to the Prime Minister for his consideration and that he stood ready to re-examine the issue in detail.
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 6 October 2008, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sompong Amornvivat gave his first official news conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after returning from attending the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York last Friday. Gist as follows:
1. The DPM/Foreign Minister said that, as the Government had not yet made a policy statement to Parliament, he had to consider carefully what activities to undertake in New York, taking into account the relevant provisions of the Constitution. In this connection, of utmost importance was his chairing of the Informal ASEAN Meeting Ministers (IAMM) on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly given that Thailand was the present ASEAN Chair. In that capacity, the DPM/FM also took the lead in the meeting between the ASEAN Foreign Ministers and the UN Secretary-General and the UNGA President.
2. To avoid any concerns some parties may have, the DPM/FM also decided not to deliver Thailand’s statement in the general debate, nor to hold any bilateral meetings as they may entail making general policy statements or commitments, which may not be considered proper given that the Government had yet to make a policy statement to Parliament.
3. Regarding the Thai-Cambodian border incident that took place on 3 October 2008, the DPM/FM explained the sequence of events that occurred leading to the exchange of fire between Thai para-military rangers and a group of Cambodian soldiers. He reaffirmed that the incident took place in Thailand’s territory and that the Thai side had only returned fire in self-defence after the said Cambodian soldiers had started firing first. The DPM/FM said that this was a violation of the agreement reached during the Special Meeting of the Thailand-Cambodia Regional Committee Meeting on 13 August 2008, and of the agreement between both sides to exercise utmost restraint. The whole incident may have resulted from a misunderstanding and that the situation had now returned to normalcy. As for reports that two Thai para-military rangers had been injured by landmines in the same vicinity, the DPM/FM said that the landmines were likely placed there some time ago though this had to be verified.
4. These and other border issues may be discussed between both countries when the Prime Minister pays an official visit to the Kingdom of Cambodia on 13 October 2008. The DPM/FM also said that he was in the process of appointing an appropriate person to be the Thai Co-Chair of the Thai-Cambodian Joint Commission on Demarcation for Land Boundary (JBC), which would pave the way for its meeting in the near future. Parliament will also likely consider a negotiating framework soon after the Government presents its policy statement to Parliament.
5. The DPM/FM further mentioned that in the meeting with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the latter also said that it was better for Thailand and Cambodia to resolve their border issues using the bilateral framework.
6. As for his first official bilateral visit abroad as customary for incoming foreign ministers, the DPM/FM said that he would be visiting the Lao PDR first and that the Foreign Ministry was presently coordinating the relevant details.
7. In answer to a query about reports that former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra had sought political asylum in the United Kingdom, the DPM/FM said that the report had first to be verified. In principle, however, an individual had to right to seek asylum in another country and that it was up to the receiving country to consider the request. As for revocation of the former prime minister’s diplomatic passport, the DPM/FM said that the issue had been submitted to the Prime Minister for his consideration and that he stood ready to re-examine the issue in detail.
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-