On 1-2 February 2010, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya visited Geneva and met with the heads of various international organizations and agencies, including 1) Mr. Francis Gurry, Director-General of the World Intellectual Property Organization; 2) Dr. Jakob Kellenberger, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross; 3) Mr. Antonio Guterres, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees; 4) Mr. Pascal Lamy, Director-General of the World Trade Organization; and 5) Sir John Holmes, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator.
In his meeting with the Director-General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) on 1 February, Foreign Minister Kasit discussed various issues including the importance of intellectual property system in stimulating innovation, technology adaptation and transfer, the development of the negotiations on genetic resources, traditional knowledge and folklore, the WIPO Development Agenda as well as issues concerning IP and public policies, and potential areas for increasing Thailand — WIPO cooperation.
During the discussion with the President of the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC), Foreign Minister Kasit exchanged views on ICRC cooperation with Thailand in many areas such as migration, disaster relief, and especially possible capacity building in international humanitarian law in the future. It was also an opportunity for Foreign Minister Kasit to provide updates on Thailand’s domestic situation and the situation in the Southern Border Provinces.
Foreign Minister Kasit also had a chance to hold discussions with the UN High Commissioner on Refugees and updated the High Commissioner on recent developments in Thailand. In addition to the latest developments on the situation of the Laotian Hmongs, they exchanged views on how to establish a national asylum screening system for Thailand. The High Commissioner strongly supported the initiative and reaffirmed the readiness of his office to be part of the process, if requested.
Later at the World Trade Organization, Foreign Minister Kasit exchanged views with Director-General Pascal Lamy on possible roles of Thailand and ASEAN to give a push to the Doha Round negotiations.
On the following day, Foreign Minister Kasit was briefed on the latest updates and challenges on the situation in Haiti by Sir John Holmes, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, given the latter’s pivotal roles in coordinating the international assistance in Haiti. Foreign Minister Kasit gave accounts of Thailand’s contributions so far as well as expected assistance in the future. Future cooperation between Sir John Holmes’ office — the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs — and Thailand as well as the ASEAN Community, especially in disaster relief efforts, was also among other topics of discussion.
During this visit, Foreign Minister Kasit also met with Ambassadors and Permanent Representatives of the ASEAN plus three countries in a luncheon hosted by Ambassador Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Permanent Representative of Thailand, in honour of the Foreign Minister. In addition, Foreign Minister Kasit gave an interview to the news media and members of the Geneva Association of the United Nations Correspondents on various issues including Thailand’s views on the region as well as multilateral issues such as climate change.
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