ID :
133195
Fri, 07/16/2010 - 18:58
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http://m.oananews.org//node/133195
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Thai PM tells US envoy general election can be held early next year
BANGKOK, July 16 - Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Friday briefed visiting United States under secretary of state for political affairs William Burns on Thailand's political situation and reaffirmed that a new general election can be held early next year if the national reconciliation plan yields results, according to Deputy Secretary-General to the Prime Minister Panithan Wattanayagorn.
Dr Panithan, acting government spokesman, said the premier has met with Mr Burns and discussed cooperation between the two countries including trade, investment and national security.
Mr Abhisit has briefed the US envoy regarding Thailand's situation and progress on the national reconciliation road map, said Dr Panitan.
The spokesman said the Thai premier assured Mr Burns that from early next year, a general election could be held if national reconciliation and reform plans are kept on the track and produce a concrete outcome.
Dr Panitan said Mr Abhisit also expressed his gratitude to the US after Congress voted 411-4 in early July to call on all parties in Thailand to work assiduously to settle their differences under the premier's five-point national reconciliation plan.
"The US has good understanding and always closely monitors the situation in Thailand. They shared common idea with the Thai government on the reconciliation plan. Today's meeting between Mr Abhisit and Mr Burns is only an exchange of general ideas on the situation here and political development," said Mr Panitan.
The prime minister also clarified the senior US envoy about the extension of state of emergency in Bangkok and other 18 provinces, saying that the enforcement is needed and in accordant with the law, he said.
Mr Panitan said the premier told Mr Burns that his government is now trying to reduce the Emergency Decree enforcement, but the law is maintained in some areas to facilitate operation of concerned officials to restore order and normalcy as soon as possible.
Meanwhile Mr Burns, the State Department's number three official and at the top position for career US diplomats, was quoted by the news agency Agence-France-Presse after meeting Mr Abhisit as saying he hopes the emergency decree imposed in Bangkok since early April should be lifted as soon as possible.
He also said that Americans had been "deeply saddened" by the violence which occurred during the ten weeks of anti-government demonstrations which ended May 19 with 90 people killed and nearly 1,900 wounded from several clashes between Thai troops and Red Shirt protesters.
Mr Burns is on an official regional tour and will be in Phnom Penh on Saturday before heading to Indonesia and the Philippines, respectively. (MCOT online news)
Dr Panithan, acting government spokesman, said the premier has met with Mr Burns and discussed cooperation between the two countries including trade, investment and national security.
Mr Abhisit has briefed the US envoy regarding Thailand's situation and progress on the national reconciliation road map, said Dr Panitan.
The spokesman said the Thai premier assured Mr Burns that from early next year, a general election could be held if national reconciliation and reform plans are kept on the track and produce a concrete outcome.
Dr Panitan said Mr Abhisit also expressed his gratitude to the US after Congress voted 411-4 in early July to call on all parties in Thailand to work assiduously to settle their differences under the premier's five-point national reconciliation plan.
"The US has good understanding and always closely monitors the situation in Thailand. They shared common idea with the Thai government on the reconciliation plan. Today's meeting between Mr Abhisit and Mr Burns is only an exchange of general ideas on the situation here and political development," said Mr Panitan.
The prime minister also clarified the senior US envoy about the extension of state of emergency in Bangkok and other 18 provinces, saying that the enforcement is needed and in accordant with the law, he said.
Mr Panitan said the premier told Mr Burns that his government is now trying to reduce the Emergency Decree enforcement, but the law is maintained in some areas to facilitate operation of concerned officials to restore order and normalcy as soon as possible.
Meanwhile Mr Burns, the State Department's number three official and at the top position for career US diplomats, was quoted by the news agency Agence-France-Presse after meeting Mr Abhisit as saying he hopes the emergency decree imposed in Bangkok since early April should be lifted as soon as possible.
He also said that Americans had been "deeply saddened" by the violence which occurred during the ten weeks of anti-government demonstrations which ended May 19 with 90 people killed and nearly 1,900 wounded from several clashes between Thai troops and Red Shirt protesters.
Mr Burns is on an official regional tour and will be in Phnom Penh on Saturday before heading to Indonesia and the Philippines, respectively. (MCOT online news)
