On 7 August 2009, the Ambassadors to Thailand of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bhutan, Finland, Uruguay, Lithuania, and Eritrea, paid separate courtesy calls on Mr. Kasit Piromya, Minister of Foreign Affairs, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Ambassador Ensar Eminovic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (resident in Kuala Lumpur) briefed the Foreign Minister on the history and multicultural background of his country. Both sides agreed to encourage the exchange of students to strengthen people-to-people relations. Foreign Minister Kasit welcomed closer economic cooperation with Bosnia and Herzegovina, which he suggested could be a hub for halal food in Central and Southern Europe.
Ambassador Tshering Dorji of Bhutan reiterated the close relations between the two countries. Foreign Minister Kasit expressed Thailand’s readiness to cooperate with Bhutan in such areas as traditional medicine and Buddha statue making, for which Bhutan could send craftsmen to Thailand to gain expertise. The two sides also discussed issues in trade, agriculture and tourism.
Ambassador Lars Erik Backstrom of Finland bade farewell to the Foreign Minister upon the completion of his assignment in the Kingdom. The Foreign Minister expressed his appreciation for Ambassador Backstrom’s hard work in fostering closer relations between the two countries and wished him success in his new assignment as Ambassador to China. Both sides exchanged views on political developments in Thailand and common challenges in their countries such as the Influenza A(H1N1) situation and the domestic impact of the global financial crisis.
During the call with Ambassador Pablo Sader Hernandez of Uruguay (resident in Kuala Lumpur), both sides agreed to expedite the conclusion of pending agreements, including the Agreement for the Promotion and Protection of Investment. The Foreign Minister agreed with
Ambassador Hernandez’s proposals for the two countries to further their cooperation in networking their diplomatic academies, setting up a political consultation mechanism, and enhancing cooperation in fields of respective expertise, including livestock and agriculture. The two sides also discussed an exchange of military experience in peacekeeping missions.
Ambassador Sigute Jakstonyte of Lithuania (resident in Vilnius) paid a courtesy call on Foreign Minister Kasit on her assumption of duty. The Foreign Minister noted that Thailand and Lithuania should promote mutual networks in such areas as tourism, transportation and scientific cooperation. Ambassador Jakstonyte invited Thailand to participate in the 1st ASEM Transport Ministers Meeting in Vilnius this October.
Ambassador Alem Tsehaye Woldemariam of Eritrea (resident in New Delhi) paid a courtesy call on Foreign Minister Kasit on his assumption of duty. The two sides discussed ways to strengthen bilateral economic cooperation, and exchanged views on the current situation in Eritrea and neighboring countries.
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