ID :
150341
Thu, 11/18/2010 - 19:22
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/150341
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Thai PM cancels trip to Russia; unrelated to Bout case
BANGKOK, Nov 18 - Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Thursday cancelled his planned trip to Russia, insisting that the cancellation did not link to the sudden extradition of alleged Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout to the United States.
The Thai premier was earlier scheduled to attend the International Forum for Tiger Conservation in St. Petersburg November 23-24. Acting government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn however said the prime minister decided to cancel his trip as he has to debate charter amendments in Parliament.
Dr Panitan said the premier has assigned Minister for Natural Resources and Environment Suwit Khunkitti to represent him at the summit and head the Thai delegation.
Mr Abhisit reaffirmed the cancellation has no connection with Mr Bout's extradition and that he has already informed the Russian president regarding his absence from the upcoming summit.
Following the dissatisfaction of Moscow over the sudden extradition of its national to the US and its foreign ministry statement condemning the action as illegal and without justification, Mr Abhisit asserted Thailand has followed this country’s judicial procedures and did not act to favour any party.
"Earlier, the US sent a jet to Thailand to take Mr Bout back to the US. I advised them to take the jet back as the process has not yet finished and the case was not yet concluded" said Mr Abhisit.
"I and Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya have advised Russian authorities over the possible channels to fight the case but they did nothing," the Thai premier said.
"The consideration of the Thai Cabinet and court to extradite Mr Bout to the US is a normal action."
Mr Abhisit conceded he knows since beginning that whatever decision Thailand takes, it will dissatisfy one of them.
Mr Abhisit however said he believes Russia will take into account the overall relations between the two countries and will not allow the case to affect the ties, as it took place before he himself took office.
The Thai prime minister said he believes Moscow will be able to separate the particular aspects of Mr Bout's case from overall bilateral relations.
"Thailand has been cautious on the case and if we favour the US, we should have proceeded what it wanted long time ago," said Mr Abhisit. "I have been informed that the US Secretary of State and the Russian foreign minister have discussed the matter, but this does not mean that everybody will be satisfied."
Mr Bout, dubbed as "The Merchant of Death", was extradited to the US Tuesday afternoon after the Thai Cabinet had no objection to the August 20 ruling of the 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)
The Thai premier was earlier scheduled to attend the International Forum for Tiger Conservation in St. Petersburg November 23-24. Acting government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn however said the prime minister decided to cancel his trip as he has to debate charter amendments in Parliament.
Dr Panitan said the premier has assigned Minister for Natural Resources and Environment Suwit Khunkitti to represent him at the summit and head the Thai delegation.
Mr Abhisit reaffirmed the cancellation has no connection with Mr Bout's extradition and that he has already informed the Russian president regarding his absence from the upcoming summit.
Following the dissatisfaction of Moscow over the sudden extradition of its national to the US and its foreign ministry statement condemning the action as illegal and without justification, Mr Abhisit asserted Thailand has followed this country’s judicial procedures and did not act to favour any party.
"Earlier, the US sent a jet to Thailand to take Mr Bout back to the US. I advised them to take the jet back as the process has not yet finished and the case was not yet concluded" said Mr Abhisit.
"I and Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya have advised Russian authorities over the possible channels to fight the case but they did nothing," the Thai premier said.
"The consideration of the Thai Cabinet and court to extradite Mr Bout to the US is a normal action."
Mr Abhisit conceded he knows since beginning that whatever decision Thailand takes, it will dissatisfy one of them.
Mr Abhisit however said he believes Russia will take into account the overall relations between the two countries and will not allow the case to affect the ties, as it took place before he himself took office.
The Thai prime minister said he believes Moscow will be able to separate the particular aspects of Mr Bout's case from overall bilateral relations.
"Thailand has been cautious on the case and if we favour the US, we should have proceeded what it wanted long time ago," said Mr Abhisit. "I have been informed that the US Secretary of State and the Russian foreign minister have discussed the matter, but this does not mean that everybody will be satisfied."
Mr Bout, dubbed as "The Merchant of Death", was extradited to the US Tuesday afternoon after the Thai Cabinet had no objection to the August 20 ruling of the 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)
