ID :
150267
Wed, 11/17/2010 - 20:45
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http://m.oananews.org//node/150267
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Thailand defends its extradition of Russian arms suspect
BANGKOK, Nov 17 -- The extradition of Russian arms trafficking suspect Viktor Bout to face trial in the United States was carried out in accordance with established Thai judicial procedures and the case should not be escalated to hurt the warm relations between Thailand and Russia, Thai Minister of Foreign Affairs Kasit Piromya affirmed today.
Mr Kasit, accompanying Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to join the 4th Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) Summit in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh, told reporters that the process to extradite Mr Bout was done under Thai legal procedures and that Moscow has been informed at every step.
He said Thai and Russian authorities met regularly in Bangkok and Moscow to update developments of the case, particularly the Thai ambassador to Moscow who was invited many times to clarify the case to Russian officials.
"I would like to affirm the professionalism, fairness and transparency of Thai judicial procedures. I believe that the case will not be escalated to affect bilateral relations between the two countries and it would be sad if the matter hurts the ties as Thailand and Russia have a wide range of good cooperation," he said.
Russia expressed dissatisfaction over the extradition and its foreign ministry issued a statement condemning the action as illegal and without justification.
Mr Kasit said that the Russian reaction was expected as Moscow always said that Thailand was under the influence of the United States.
The Thai foreign minister said said Mr Bout was now under American legal procedures and he was sure that Mr Bout would have his own lawyer to defend himself.
Thailand has no need to make any further clarifications as Thailand has informed Russia regularly regarding the procedure, he said.
Mr Kasit made his remarks following the sudden extradition of Mr Bout, dubbed as "The Merchant of Death", Tuesday afternoon after the Thai Cabinet had no objection to the August 20 ruling of Court of Appeals to extradite him.
The court said the extradition must be done within 90 days, or before Nov 19. Mr Bout reportedly arrived in New York late Tuesday and was taken to a high-security prison in Manhattan.
The 43-year-old former Soviet air force officer was arrested at a Bangkok luxury hotel in March 2008. His arrest was part of an elaborate sting in which US agents posed as arms buyers for the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, which the US government classifies as a terrorist organisation.
Mr Bout was subsequently indicted in the US on four terrorism-related charges that include conspiring to sell millions of dollars worth of weapons to FARC. The accused has denied any involvement in illicit activities including arms trafficking to conflict zones in Africa, South America and the Middle East. He claims he ran a legitimate business. (MCOT online news)
Mr Kasit, accompanying Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to join the 4th Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) Summit in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh, told reporters that the process to extradite Mr Bout was done under Thai legal procedures and that Moscow has been informed at every step.
He said Thai and Russian authorities met regularly in Bangkok and Moscow to update developments of the case, particularly the Thai ambassador to Moscow who was invited many times to clarify the case to Russian officials.
"I would like to affirm the professionalism, fairness and transparency of Thai judicial procedures. I believe that the case will not be escalated to affect bilateral relations between the two countries and it would be sad if the matter hurts the ties as Thailand and Russia have a wide range of good cooperation," he said.
Russia expressed dissatisfaction over the extradition and its foreign ministry issued a statement condemning the action as illegal and without justification.
Mr Kasit said that the Russian reaction was expected as Moscow always said that Thailand was under the influence of the United States.
The Thai foreign minister said said Mr Bout was now under American legal procedures and he was sure that Mr Bout would have his own lawyer to defend himself.
Thailand has no need to make any further clarifications as Thailand has informed Russia regularly regarding the procedure, he said.
Mr Kasit made his remarks following the sudden extradition of Mr Bout, dubbed as "The Merchant of Death", Tuesday afternoon after the Thai Cabinet had no objection to the August 20 ruling of Court of Appeals to extradite him.
The court said the extradition must be done within 90 days, or before Nov 19. Mr Bout reportedly arrived in New York late Tuesday and was taken to a high-security prison in Manhattan.
The 43-year-old former Soviet air force officer was arrested at a Bangkok luxury hotel in March 2008. His arrest was part of an elaborate sting in which US agents posed as arms buyers for the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, which the US government classifies as a terrorist organisation.
Mr Bout was subsequently indicted in the US on four terrorism-related charges that include conspiring to sell millions of dollars worth of weapons to FARC. The accused has denied any involvement in illicit activities including arms trafficking to conflict zones in Africa, South America and the Middle East. He claims he ran a legitimate business. (MCOT online news)
