Yingluck Will Not Discuss Energy Deal: Surapong

[webfact]

Yingluck will not discuss energy deal: Surapong

Supalak Ganjanakhundee

The Nation

Phnom Penh

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has no conflict of interest in the energy deal with Cambodia when she visits Siem Reap on Friday to join US-Asean Business Forum at the invitation of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said Tuesday.

Yingluck would have a bilateral meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen but the main agenda was cooperation on the road connecting the border and Laos's Xayaburi dam, over which Cambodia is concerned about the impacts and not the gas deal in the Gulf of Thailand, he said.

Surapong rushed to clarify the visit after allegations by the opposition Democrat Party that Yingluck would be discussing a gas deal in the joint development area in the Gulf of Thailand with her Cambodian counterpart on Friday.

The Democrat's leader Abhisit Vejjajiva expressed doubts that the US would be interested in a business concession in the area since executives of giant gas Chevron Corporation were also in the forum.

Surapong said US Secretary of State Clinton invited the Thai Prime Minister to deliver her speech at the business forum in Siem Reap. The invitation letter was issued since June 28 and arrived at the foreign ministry a day later, he said.

In fact, the invitation was made in person on June 13 when Surapong met Clinton in Washington during Thai-US Strategic Dialogue. Clinton urged Yingluck to bring her deputy Prime Minister on economic matters as well as the Thai ministers of commerce, communication and transportation.

Yingluck will deliver her speech to the US-Asean Business Forum and the US Chamber of Commerce on Asean connectivity and Thailand's economic plan after the flood, Surapong said.

"I see no point as to why the opposition is questioning the conflict of interest on the gas deal with Cambodia," he said.

The minister said Thailand and Cambodia would not be able to resume negotiation on the joint development area in the Gulf of Thailand, which is believed is be rich in petroleum resources, since the legal status of the 2001 memorandum of understanding was in doubt due to the announcement of denunciation made by the Democrats when they were in power.

The Democrat government under Abhisit announced in late 2009 that it was scrapping the 2001 MOU on the maritime deal after a conflict with Phnom Penh over a visit of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. There are, however, doubt whether the denunciation was effective since the then government did not officially inform Phnom Penh of the move.

-- The Nation 2012-07-10

[saltandpepper]

so, it will be discussed, then!

[webfact]

PM will not discuss conflict of interest with Cambodia during her trip there

BANGKOK, 10 July 2012 (NNT)-Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has insisted there will be no discussion over the conflict of interest between Thailand and other nations during her trip to Cambodia this Friday.

Ms. Yingluck said in her statement that she will travel to Cambodia as a guest of the US Secretary of States, Hillary Clinton, to participate in the discussion with the private sector and over the bilateral corporation.

She assured that no conversation concerning the conflict of interest would be brought up during her visit. The Prime Minister said that she will focus on reiterating how Thailand is the connecting point in this region and how strong the ASEAN Economic Community will be.

Regarding the border dispute with Cambodia, Ms. Yingluck said the decision whether Thailand will withdraw its troops depends on the the Ministry of Defense, and that the 2001 cabinet resolution on the MOU with Cambodia regarding the overlapping territory between the two countries has not been tabled for consideratioin.

The Premier will also clarify the current charter rewrite to US entrepreneurs, which is indicative that people are entitled to their different opinions as long as they do it under the framework of laws and the move towards reconciliation, and that the Thai government is doing its best for the nation as a whole.

-- NNT 2012-07-10

[MEL1]

"Surapong said US Secretary of State Clinton invited the Thai Prime Minister to deliver her speech at the business forum in Siem Reap. The invitation letter was issued since June 28 and arrived at the foreign ministry a day later, he said."

So there is a clear invitation for Yingluck to give a speech, and it arrived a day later. It must have had enclosed, "And in English, please."

Mrs. Clinton must have a wicked sense of humour!

-mel.

[Moruya]

I'm sure that Chevron executives will not be in attendance for tea and muffins with Hun Sen.

I'm also sure that Hilary can spell FCPA

[ramrod711]

How would you like to have Surapongs job? He always has to deny everything, he must be desperate to confirm something.

[SuneeTH]

Yingluck will not discuss energy deal.

That's the job for Thaksin.

[Moruya]

How would you like to have Surapongs job? He always has to deny everything, he must be desperate to confirm something.

I couldn't put my node where his goes. Oh no!

[MEL1]

Yingluck will not discuss energy deal.

That's the job for Thaksin.

Yingluck will not discuss energy deal.

Because she knows sweet FA about it, or about much else, and is starting to realise what a laughing stock she really is.

Something important to discuss? Ooops..... sorry boys, my calendar says I will be out of the COUNTry that day!

-mel.

[whybother]

PM will not discuss conflict of interest with Cambodia during her trip there

"Conflict of interest" won't be mentioned. She'll be too busy discussing the energy deal.

[Moruya]

Take note

http://www.aseanaffairs.com/cambodia_news/energy/thaksin_cambodia_oil_deal_revealed

[waza]

They wouldnt dare discuss this matter without Thaksin there to protect his interests

[hellodolly]

I found this very interesting she says and I quote

"Regarding the border dispute with Cambodia, Ms. Yingluck said the decision whether Thailand will withdraw its troops depends on the the Ministry of Defense, and that the 2001 cabinet resolution on the MOU with Cambodia regarding the overlapping territory between the two countries has not been tabled for consideratioin."

Is she saying the Army will make the decision. I was always told it was the democrats that the army told what to do.

Not being a politician I was under the impression that the Cabinet would discuss it make a decision and tell the army what to do.

[webfact]

THAI-KHMER RELATIONS

Gulf gas won't be discussed: PM

SUPALAK GANJANAKHUNDEE

THE NATION

Phnom Penh

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said yesterday there would be no discussion with Cambodia about disputed areas in the Gulf of Thailand when she attends the Asean-US Business Forum in Siem Reap.

"There is really nothing," Yingluck insisted.

Foreign Minister Surapong Towichukchaikul also said there would be no talks about the joint development of gas leases in the Gulf soon because the legal status of the 2001 Memorandum of Understanding on the matter was still in doubt.

The joint development area became yet another politicised issue after the opposition Democrat Party alleged that Yingluck would cut a deal with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen when they meet in Siem Reap on Friday during the US-Asean Business Forum.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton invited Yingluck to deliver a speech at the forum in Siem Reap, which is focusing on Asean connectivity and economic recovery after last year's floods. The forum was organised to follow the annual meeting of Asean foreign ministers and dialogue partners, including the US, in Phnom Penh this week.

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said the US might also be involved in the gas deal between Thailand and Cambodia since executives of US-based energy giant Chevron would be at the Siem Reap forum.

Surapong said the allegations were groundless since any deals in regard to the joint development area could not be negotiated at such a forum.

"I see no point in the opposition raising the issue of gas deals with Cambodia," he said, adding that it was when the Democrats were in power that the legal status of the 2001 MoU became unclear.

In November 2009, then-PM Abhisit decided to scrap the 2001 MoU in reaction to a conflict with Phnom Penh over the appointment of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra as an adviser to Hun Sen. However, there was doubt on whether the denunciation was effective as the Abhisit government did not officially inform Phnom Penh about the decision.

Surapong said he commissioned a legal team to study the status of the 2001 MoU but they had yet to reach a conclusion. Yingluck had instructed the Foreign Ministry to consult with all stakeholders, including civil society and security agencies, on the matter, he said.

If it was deemed necessary to put the agreement to parliament, the Cabinet would do so for the sake of transparency, he said.

Thailand and Cambodia signed the MoU in 2001 as a legal means to kick-start negotiations on overlapping claims for the continental shelf in the Gulf of Thailand. A joint technical committee set up under the MoU would organise talks to delimit the sea boundary, as well as establish a joint development area in the Gulf.

But talks have been stalled over the past few years due to political conflict in Thailand. The opposition has linked Thaksin's personal business interests in the energy sector to joint development negotiations.

In a bilateral meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Friday, Yingluck is set to discuss cooperation on road connections at the border and Thai investment in the Xayaburi dam on the Mekong in Laos. Cambodia is concerned about the dam's impact on the river and fish stocks.

Preah Vihear and troop withdrawals from the demilitarised zone at the border temple, as determined by the International Court of Justice, would also be on the agenda, Surapong said. Defence Minister Sukampol Suwannathat will accompany Yingluck to Siem Reap and might take part in the discussions on Preah Vihear with Cambodia, Surapong said.

-- The Nation 2012-07-11