Thailand boosts ties with Cuba

BANGKOK: -- Thailand and Cuba will hold their second joint commission meeting in Havana this month to boost economic and diplomatic ties, a foreign ministry spokesman said on Wednesday.

Thai Vice Foreign Minister Virachai Virameteekul will visit Cuba and Guatemala between February 9 to 16, primarily to attend the second Thailand-Cuba Joint Commission (JC) in Havana, said Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Sihasak Phungketkeow.

The first JC was held two years ago in Bangkok.

"Our relationship with Cuba over the past two years has made quite significant progress," said Sihasak, who noted that Cuba had recently appointed an ambassador to Bangkok.

"On their side they seem to want to increase their contacts with Thailand. They're looking more to Southeast Asia," said Sihasak.

Thai businessmen have expressed interest in Cuba as a potential investment destination, especially in tourism and labour-intensive manufacturing.

While Virachai is in Cuba and Guatemala he will also lobby the two Latin American countries to support Thai Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart Sathirathai's candidacy to become the next United Nations Secretary General, Sihasak added.

--DPA/Bangkok Post 2006-02-08

While Virachai is in Cuba and Guatemala he will also lobby the two Latin American countries to support Thai Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart Sathirathai's candidacy to become the next United Nations Secretary General, Sihasak added.

That will really help Mr. Surakiart become the next UN Secretary General.

Chooks and rice for cigars and second hand americian motor cars...where next......Iceland?

While Virachai is in Cuba and Guatemala he will also lobby the two Latin American countries to support Thai Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart Sathirathai's candidacy to become the next United Nations Secretary General, Sihasak added.

That will really help Mr. Surakiart become the next UN Secretary General.

All we need now is for Hugo Chavez of Venezuela to endorse Surakiart Sathirathai and that will really piss the United States right off.

Bad enough that he's grabbing at straws like Cuba and Guatemala, which is at least a democracy just like Thailand.

Next stop Iran and North Korea.

cheaper cigar please.

Why not court communist countries that border Thailand, or China? What does the Cuban economy have to offer Thailand? Sugar cane? No. Cigars? How many Thais smoke hand-rolled Cuban cigars? Cuban rum? Nah, Thailand's got all the rotgut whiskey it needs.

I've visited Guatemala briefly and can't think of any trade with that country.

And guess who else is headed to Cuba soon...that's right, the president of Iran.

It's an upside-down world...