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TWN Info Service on Free
Trade Agreements
13 October 2006
FTAs on hold until elected govt in place
US talks stalled, Japan agreement not signed
Bangkok Post, October 12, 2006
ACHARA ASHAYAGACHAT
Thailand will not resume free trade agreements (FTAs) with its trade
partners until the country has an elected government and parliament,
Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsonggram said yesterday. The country has
not
continued negotiations with the US on a bilateral free trade agreement
and the one with Japan has yet to be signed.
The minister said of the pending Thai-US negotiations that there would
be no progress until there is an elected government, expected in the
next 12 months.
But if the Bush administration wanted to see the talks continue the
Commerce Ministry, which was the responsible agency, would brainstorm
the
position, he said.
''There was some kind of feeling at the end of the Chiang Mai round
[of talks] that the trade deal was concluded. In fact, upon the date
of my resignation, there were 300 inconclusive issues and 10% of them
require legislative amendments,'' he said, defending his nearly two-year
role as chief negotiator.
He resigned from the post after protests against the Thai-US talks in
Chiang Mai in January.
The Thai-Japanese FTA was concluded but the signing appeared to have
been delayed until Thailand had a legitimate and elected government
with a full
parliament in place, he said.
But other foreign policies initiated by the previous government -- including
the Ayeyawaddy-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy
and the Asia Cooperation Dialogue -- would be maintained, according
to Mr Nitya.
The Foreign Ministry would promote better understanding among other
countries of Thailand's domestic and foreign policy directions as one
of
its key priorities, he said.
That would start this weekend with Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont's
first overseas trips to Laos on Saturday and Cambodia on Sunday.
Government spokesman Yongyuth Mayalarb said Gen Surayud would emphasise
bilateral relations and explain the political change in Thailand to
leaders of the two countries.
The visit is part of the tradition of any new leader in the Association
of Southeast Asian Nations holding talks with his colleagues.
Asked how Thailand would maintain a leading role in addressing Burma's
democratic reform in light of the Sept 19 coup, Mr Nitya said Thailand
would tell Burma that what particular form of government countries had
were their own concerns as Asean adhered to the principle of non-interference.
''We do not have the luxury of separation [from each other] as we share
a 2,401km-long border. We will maintain our relations with Burma within
the
context of Asean,'' he said.
Best wishes,
Third World Network
2-1, Jalan 31/70A
Desa Sri Hartamas
50480 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: +603-2300 2585
Fax: +603-2300 2595
email: twnkl@po.jaring.my
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