On 21 April 2009, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya gave a talk at the Asia Society Headquarters, New York, to a full house of audience, comprising diplomats, members of the Asia Society and representatives of the business sector, as well as the media. He gave a frank assessment on the political situation in Thailand and reaffirmed the Government’s determination to bring the country back to normalcy and to achieve a sustainable political reform. He also assured the audience that Thailand remains a safe place for tourists and that the political situation does not affect normal day-to-day life of the ordinary people. Before the talk, Foreign Minister Kasit also met with ASEAN + 6 Permanent Representatives to the United Nations in New York. He took the opportunity to brief them on the political situation in Thailand.
While in New York, Foreign Minister also visited the New York Stock Exchange and met with Mr. Duncan Niederauer, CEO of the New York Stock Exchange. Subsequently, Foreign Minister met with Mr. William Dudley, Chair of the New York Federal Reserve Bank. The discussions touched upon the Thai political situation, the US economic recovery and possible cooperation between the New York Stock Exchange and the Stock Exchange of Thailand.
On 22 April 2009, Foreign Minister Kasit started his first day in Washington, D.C. meeting with Deputy State Secretary James Steinberg at the State Department. Foreign Minister also met with Representative Howard Berman, Chairman of the House of Representatives’ Foreign Affairs Committee, Senator Max Baucus, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, and Deputy Defense Secretary William Lynn. The discussions with Representative Berman and Senator Baucus focused on the political situation in Thailand, intellectual property rights, regional issues, as well as how to broaden US engagement with ASEAN. The discussion with Deputy Defense Secretary focused on the longstanding and close military cooperation between the two countries.
All of those whom Foreign Minister Kasit has met expressed understanding on the political situation in Thailand.
Over the next few days, Foreign Minister Kasit will be meeting with a number of Senators and Representatives, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, US Trade Representative Ron Kirk and National Security Advisor James Jones. He will also meet with members of the US-ASEAN Business Council, the head of offices under the Team Thailand, and the members of the Thai community in Washington D.C. and the metropolitan area and will deliver a speech at Georgetown University on the topic of “Thailand- US partnership : Reengaging the US in Southeast Asia.”
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