Thailand To Welcome Two Former Us Presidents

[george]

Thailand to welcome two former US presidents

BANGKOK: -- Thailand is pleased to welcome two former US top leaders, former President George H.W. Bush and former President William Jefferson Clinton, or Bill Clinton, later this month.

Former President Bush, the father of incumbent US President George W. Bush, and Former President Clinton, are scheduled to visit the Thai kingdom on 19-20 February, according to an official statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today.

During the visit, the two former US top leaders will visit Thailand's southern resort province of Phuket and other tsunami-affected areas to express their condolences to tsunami victims on behalf of the US government and people, as well as their appreciation to the Thai government and people for their assistance rendered to foreign nationals affected by the 26 December tsunamis.

The two former US presidents will assess

damages caused by the disaster and explore opportunities for cooperation with the Thai kingdom in the latter's rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts.

Former US President Clinton was also appointed by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan as his special envoy for the tsunami-affected countries.

The tsunami disaster ravaged Thailand's six southern Andaman provinces--Phuket, Phang-nga, Krabi, Trang, Ranong and Satun--and many other countries in Asia and Africa, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, India, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Somalia and Madacascar, leaving nearly 200,000 victims dead, and tens of thousands of others injured and missing.

In Thailand alone, the official death toll has risen to over 5,300, while those who were injured and missing have been recorded at over 8,400 and over 3,000 respectively.

Following the massive waves attack, US President Bush asked the two former US top leaders to lead efforts to help raise funds for tsunami reliefs.

Thailand has been cooperating with Washington in extending humanitarian assistance to the affected nations, including search and rescue missions and the distribution of emergency supplies, namely food, drinking water, clothing, medical supplies, and other assentials, using the Utapao military airport as a regional coordination centre,

At the end of January, it was estimated that the total pledge of assistance from the American private and public sectors stood at US$400 million, and is expected to reach US$700 million shortly.

Donations from the American private and public sectors, as well as members of the Thai community in the United States for relief efforts in Thailand through the Thai Embassy and Thai Consulates-General in the US are estimated at US$1.5 million.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will be in Phuket to welcome the two former US presidents, and host a dinner in their honour in the evening of 19 February.

-- TNA 2005-02-05

[george]

Two former US presidents to visit Thai tsunami victims

BANGKOK: -- Two former US Presidents, George Bush and Bill Clinton, plan to visit tsunami victims in southern Thailand next week, according to the Thai government spokesman.

Thailand’s Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatre told this week’s cabinet meeting that Mr. Bush and Mr. Clinton would visit Thailand on 18 February.

''Mr Thaksin will accompany the two former US presidents on their visit to our country's tsunami affected provinces to assess the damages and help with our rehabilitation plan,'' Jakrapob Penkair, the government spokesman, told reporters after the cabinet meeting at Government House on Tuesday.

The UN Secretary General Kofi Annan appointed the two American presidents to head the UN’s fund raising efforts for the tsunami victims.

The Thai government hopes their visit will also help restore confidence amongst tourists and foreign investors, the spokesman said.

The Thai government plans to hold a meeting with government agencies to draw up a national rehabilitation plan for the affected areas after Mr. Bush and Mr. Clinton’s visit, Mr. Jakrapob said.

The plan will focus on restoring the tourist industry and encouraging the return of foreign visitors,' he said.

--TNA 2005-02-08

[Erwin1011]

W ill they get a Work Permit ?

[aaaaaa]

W ill they get a Work Permit ?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

yeah, right - that's what me talking bout !

[NedKelly]

Its been said already but it has to be said again........

....they will need a workpermit to conduct this work even thoug it is voluntary and not paid.......just ask that silly little fellow who released this complete blooper yesterday.

[kat]

W ill they get a Work Permit ?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Good question.

[george]

W ill they get a Work Permit ?

Good question.

Hehe. Mr. Clinton and Mr. Bush is arriving with official visas in their diplomatic passports.

Their visa type is Non-Immigrant "F" (official visa), and does not require work permit.

[george]

Bush, Thai Prime Minister Plan Delegation

Washington, DC (AP): -- President Bush reached out to Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra of Thailand on Wednesday, laying the groundwork for the visit of another high-level U.S. delegation to that tsunami-ravaged country and congratulating the Thai leader on a landslide election victory.

Though all ballots have not been counted from the Feb. 6 voting, Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai party appeared to capture a vast majority of the country's 500 parliamentary seats. The White House made no mention of what critics see as Thaksin's autocratic tendencies and fears that he may turn back progress toward full democracy.

In a little over a week, Bush is sending former Presidents Clinton and George H.W. Bush to the Indian Ocean region, including Thailand, to review efforts to help the countries recover from the Dec. 26 earthquake and tsunami that killed at least 157,000 people. Then-Secretary of State Colin Powell and the president's brother, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, went to the region last month.

White House press secretary Scott McClellan said the two former presidents are aiming to "get a firsthand look at the ongoing tsunami relief and reconstruction efforts."

Meanwhile, the Bush administration is working on a request for more U.S. aid to the region. A White House briefing by Andrew Natsios, administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, and officials from the Office of Management and Budget, State Department and the Pentagon, was planned for later Wednesday.

That money was expected to come along with an $80 billion request for extra money to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Bush has pledged an initial aid package of $350 million in federal funds to the relief effort, and McClellan said that $120 million of that has been allocated already.

Lawmakers have said Bush could ask Congress for as much as $1 billion in aid for tsunami victims in a package that would reimburse existing USAID and Defense Department international aid accounts that have been tapped to help the region, as well as provide longer-term assistance.

--AP 2005-02-09

[RDN]

Well, Bush senior and Clinton came to Phuket, and for the first time ever an ex-president of the USA wai'd a schoolboy, and nobody laughed - must be considered a great success!

[kreon]

Well, Bush senior and Clinton came  to Phuket, and for the first time ever an ex-president of the USA wai'd a schoolboy, and nobody laughed - must be considered a great success!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

its the usual grand standing that means &lt;deleted&gt; all

[The_Eye_Of_Sauron]

The UN Secretary General Kofi Annan appointed the two American presidents to head the UN’s fund raising efforts for the tsunami victims.

Thought we weren't having any?

What are they doing when they talk to the victims?

"Sorry you're not getting a dime from us, he says so" jerking a thumb at Shinawatra.

[kenk3z]

It would be most interesting to know if they each will need 500 Baht to leave the country. And in Thai currency please.

Also somewhat noteworthy that Hillary is not accompanying Bill. Wonder if Bill knows the best "Monicas" can be found in Thailand? "Sorry, Hillary. Thailand is just too dangerous at the moment for you to go with me."

kenk3z

Edited February 20, 2005 by kenk3z