Thai FM Surapong: Special talk with world leaders not related to reform forum

[webfact]

Special talk with world leaders not related to reform forum: Surapong
Nuntida Puangthong
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul, who is also deputy PM, said on Tuesday that the special talks with high-profile international statesmen and experts scheduled for September 2 is not related to the government-proposed political reform forum.

Kofi Annan, former United Nations secretary-general, is unable to make it but has said he supports the initiative, Surapong said.

The minister added that the Cabinet had approved the proposal made by the Foreign Ministry to host this special meeting, entitled "Uniting for the Future Learning from Each Other's Experience", which resulted from Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's initiative.

The event, to be held in Bangkok, will be inaugurated with an opening speech by Yingluck herself. Former British PM Tony Blair is among the high-profile speakers invited.

The talks will be broadcast live on television in the morning, while the afternoon round will be aired on radio, Surapong said. He added that the participants in this event are different from those who will take part in the political reform council process.


-- The Nation 2013-08-14

[Robby nz]

BANGKOK: -- Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul, who is also deputy PM, said on Tuesday that the special talks with high-profile international statesmen and experts scheduled for September 2 is not related to the government-proposed political reform forum.

Is this something new, a backtrack, sidetrack or what?

Or is it because no one would come to the previous thing they proposed?

The event, to be held in Bangkok, will be inaugurated with an opening speech by Yingluck herself. Former British PM Tony Blair is among the high-profile speakers invited.

By Yingluck HERSELF, wow so it wont clash with her trip to Pakistan.

Former British PM Tony Blair is among the high-profile speakers invited. paid to speak.

[NongKhaiKid]

BANGKOK: -- Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul, who is also deputy PM, said on Tuesday that the special talks with high-profile international statesmen and experts scheduled for September 2 is not related to the government-proposed political reform forum.

Is this something new, a backtrack, sidetrack or what?

Or is it because no one would come to the previous thing they proposed?

The event, to be held in Bangkok, will be inaugurated with an opening speech by Yingluck herself. Former British PM Tony Blair is among the high-profile speakers invited.

By Yingluck HERSELF, wow so it wont clash with her trip to Pakistan.

Former British PM Tony Blair is among the high-profile speakers invited. paid to speak.

He will flash that insincere grin, say what's expected, collect his cheque and forget the whole thing. Hope he thanks YL 3 times for inviting him

[lungmi]

My vision is that Tony Blair is engaged otherwhere, but he will send his famous classmate from his grammar school, Mr.Bean, to take his place.

[jaidam]

You have to admire Surapong's tenacity. While Bangkok and a good portion of the country were swimming around with cobras and escaped crocs, inundated with the greatest flood since Noah's ark, Surapong as FM managed to open an emergency passport office just to print out a diplomatic passport for a fugitive on the run and then fly off to the desert wastelands to hand deliver it to said fugitive. What a man! I'm sure he could teach all world leaders about how to love their family and care for them when they are in dire situations of their own making. Lots of leaders would be distracted with feeling a need to help the desperate citizens, losing track of the politicians mantra of a day distracted is a dollar lost. Hail Surapong!

[GrantSmith]

Somebody has to fill the void left by the former DPM. Especially whilst said former DPM sets about turning his new found portfolio from some back water forgotten ministry into some prominent rockstar ministry worthy of him.

But will Surapong even show up to this forum, or will he send in his stunt double for a quick 10 minute conference.

I hope there's a goodie bag filled with eclectic audio choices for all to remember the occasion!

[Thai at Heart]

What do they expect him to say?

If he stays true to form, they probably won't to hear what he says anyway. I don't see him trumpeting infringments of freedom of speech, the benefits of lese majeste, traficking of immigrants etc. I suppose he could rattle on about how bad coups are for democracy, but that can be countered very quickly with any questions relating to corruption in politics. I mean if he starts talking about corruption in politics, I expect to watch just about every Thai present to start squirming on their chair.

I know he has a penchant for saying what people want to hear, but, I think his speech writers will struggle to polish the t**d that Thai politics has become.

[webfact]

World leaders to attend forum on democracy, not political reform
By English News



BANGKOK, Aug 14 – Well-known international figures will participate in Thailand's government-sponsored forum to exchange views on democracy, an activity unrelated to the the country’s political reform, according to Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul.

He said the forum “Uniting for the future, Learning from each other’s experience”, scheduled for September 2, will hear experiences and opinions from world’s leaders including former British prime minister Tony Blair, former Finnish president Martti Ahtisaari and Priscilla Hayner, an expert on transitional justice.

Former UN secretary general Kofi Annan would not be available for the event, he said.

Other leading participants would include Jens Orback, secretary general of the Sweden-based Olof Palme International Centre, Prof Stephen Stedman, an academic at the Centre on Democracy, Stanford University, and Michael Vatikiotis, regional director of the Geneva-based Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-08-14

[jaidam]

World leaders to attend forum on democracy, not political reform

By English News

BANGKOK, Aug 14 – Well-known international figures will participate in Thailand's government-sponsored forum to exchange views on democracy, an activity unrelated to the the country’s political reform, according to Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul.

He said the forum “Uniting for the future, Learning from each other’s experience”, scheduled for September 2, will hear experiences and opinions from world’s leaders including former British prime minister Tony Blair, former Finnish president Martti Ahtisaari and Priscilla Hayner, an expert on transitional justice.

Former UN secretary general Kofi Annan would not be available for the event, he said.

Other leading participants would include Jens Orback, secretary general of the Sweden-based Olof Palme International Centre, Prof Stephen Stedman, an academic at the Centre on Democracy, Stanford University, and Michael Vatikiotis, regional director of the Geneva-based Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2013-08-14

And to think his party campaigned against Sukhumband in the Bkk election claiming that he looked like a retard? Good lord, they probably didn't notice poor Surapong squirming around like he had boxer shorts full of eels.

[IMA_FARANG]

Hmmm ... in the company of "world leaders" exactly what does an out-of-power former Prime Minister like Tony Blair go for in Euro dollars?

Much less than in "Thai baht".

Edited August 14, 2013 by IMA_FARANG

[Nickymaster]

Just keep on twisting and turning Mr. Surapong. All in line with family traditions.

[Bagwan]

World leaders??? Gilding the lily somewhat I suggest. As for Blair ( spelt B. Liar in the UK), the only people that he has led are those who didn't take the opportunity to acquire an education and will vote for anybody who pledges not to increase the tax on beer and cigarettes, and are preoccupied by the size of the boobs on the day's Page 3 girl, and he led them by the nose. Without the support and help of the Clintons, and a wife far cleverer than he could imagine, he would have been a nonentity all his life.

[tominbkk]

They invited Blair but has he accepted?

[Baerboxer]

You have to admire Surapong's tenacity. While Bangkok and a good portion of the country were swimming around with cobras and escaped crocs, inundated with the greatest flood since Noah's ark, Surapong as FM managed to open an emergency passport office just to print out a diplomatic passport for a fugitive on the run and then fly off to the desert wastelands to hand deliver it to said fugitive. What a man! I'm sure he could teach all world leaders about how to love their family and care for them when they are in dire situations of their own making. Lots of leaders would be distracted with feeling a need to help the desperate citizens, losing track of the politicians mantra of a day distracted is a dollar lost. Hail Surapong!

Spot on! I wonder if how to avoid answering embarasing questions posed by the Ombudsman on illegal government activities will be on topic?

Are they inviting the Ombudsman ?