On 23-25 May 2009, Mr. Panich Vikitsreth, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, in his capacity as the Special Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, led a Thai delegation to attend the 36th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the member-states of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) in Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic. Thailand was invited to the said ministerial meeting as an observer to the OIC.
In his statement given during the plenary session of the conference, Vice Minister Panich reaffirmed Thailand’s commitment to continue fostering the close and cordial ties between Thailand and the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and expand existing cooperation to cover all areas of potential. These include promoting trade and investment in both directions, especially in such sectors as tourism and Halal food industry, as well as further fostering inter-faith dialogue and people-to-people relations.
Vice Minister Panich also used this opportunity to inform the OIC about the situation in the Southern Border Provinces of Thailand and the Government’s policy towards the improvement of people’s standard of living through peaceful and reconciliatory approach, based on His Majesty the King’s advice to “understand, reach out, and develop”. The OIC member-states were pleased to note the progress in efforts to alleviating the problem, and to learn of the policy of the Government under Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to promote justice, rule of law, and human rights protection in addressing the problem The Thai delegation succeeded in forging better understanding between Thailand and the member-states of the OIC. It is also another important step towards closer relations and strategic cooperation between Thailand and its friends in the Muslim world
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