Mr. Kasit Piromya, Minister of Foreign Affairs, will be leading a group of Ambassadors and Head of Missions from Latin American, Asian, and European countries to visit the southern border provinces during 20 — 21 February 2010. The purpose of the visit is to provide opportunity for foreign Ambassadors and HOMs to learn and experience by themselves the ongoing southern border problems and the Thai government’s determined efforts to solve the problems.
The group will meet with representatives from various concerned sectors, namely the Governor of Yala Province, Central Islamic Committee of Pattani Province, academics from the Prince of Songkla University, Pattani Campus, NGO workers, members of the Peace Advisory Council of the Southern Border Provinces, and local Dato Justices.
In addition, the group will visit the Sufficiency Economy Learning Centre, under supervision of the Internal Security Operations Command Fourth Region, which has introduced the H.M. the King-bestowed concept of sufficiency economy to the local communities’ practice, the Tambon Peace Council of Ban Piyamumang in Pattani Province, and the H.M. the Queen’s development project in Yala Province.
The visit is aimed at promoting better understanding of foreign delegations about the situation and the government’s undertakings of the southern border provinces. There have been 3 such visits previously held for different groups of delegations: EU member countries (3 — 4 May 2009), OIC member countries (9 — 10 August 2009), and Asia-Pacific and Middle Eastern countries (11 — 12 October 2009).
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