On 3 July 2010, Ms. Vimon Kidchob, Director-General of the Department of Information and Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, responding to media enquiries regarding the visit of former prime minister Police Lieutenant Colonel Thaksin Shinawatra’s legal adviser, Mr. Noppadon Pattama, to Brussels to seek meetings with members of the European Commission and European Parliament, said that the matter should not pose any problems. She further elaborated that Thailand has been in close communication with the European Union and its members, providing them with facts on the political situation in Thailand, including the Government’s efforts to resolve related problems and promote reconciliation. Thailand has confidence in the judgment of people concerned in the EU.
The Foreign Ministry Spokesperson underlined that the EU fully understands the situation and recognises that the present Thai Government assumed office through democratic means in accordance with the parliamentary system and is determined to resolve the political problems of the country in a peaceful manner while exercising restraint in dealing with the situation. On 20 May 2010, the European Parliament passed a resolution encouraging Thailand to resolve its situation through democratic and peaceful means while acknowledging the Prime Minister’s reconciliation plan. Meanwhile, Baroness Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy said in her statement on 21 May 2010, expressing the hope that the Thai nation would look ahead and seek a pragmatic solution and noting that a basis for that could be the five point roadmap proposed by Prime Minister Abhisit. The Royal Thai Embassy in Brussels as well as those in other EU member countries have also been keeping the European governments and the European Parliament abreast of the steady progress being made on all aspects of the reconciliation plan.
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