We salute these MFA officials and thank them for their integrity. Thai PBS English News (12 Mar. 2014): Foreign affairs officials say no to Ban Ki-moon’s mediation A large group of foreign affairs officials today issued an open letter addressed to Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul expressing their disagreement with the planned invitation of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to help mediate the political standoff in Thailand. The group said that they were fully aware of their duty to protect national interests and they had always been cooperative and supportive of every government no matter whatever the political parties. However, under the present political circumstances, they pointed out that the duty of the caretaker foreign minister was to maintain the continuity of the routine work and to keep up with the existing obligations with the international community without creating new obligations. The foreign minister’s plan to invite UN secretary-general to visit Thailand and to help mediate the political conflict was not carefully thought out as far as national interests were concerned, said the officials, adding that the minister should have consulted relevant senior officials and to listen to their views. As such, they said they doubted the legitimacy of the minister’s action. No matter whether Mr Ban will visit Thailand himself as invited or whether he will send a special envoy here, the officials noted that the result would be the same – that is Thailand will have to accept the UN’s recommendations which might be drafted by someone else who may not fully understand the problem in Thailand or who may not adhere to national interests. The UN’s involvement in resolving Thailand’s political conflict may jeopardize Thailand’s long-held policy to resolve the southern unrest problem with domestic mechanisms without outside interference. Source: englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/foreign-affairs-officials-say-ban-ki-moons-mediation/ Read the letter (in Thai) here: https://facebook/photo.php?fbid=717899441566955&set=pcb.717899628233603&type=1&theater #thaiuprising
Posted on: Tue, 18 Mar 2014 10:18:08 +0000
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