90-day visa-free entry for government officials to Montenegro

[webfact]

90-day visa-free entry to Montenegro
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Cabinet on Tuesday approved a bilateral agreement with Montenegro, which will offer 90-day visa-free entry for government officials between the two countries.

Deputy Government Spokesperson Pakdiharn Himathongkham said that this is to facilitate the travel of officials between the two countries.

This will pave way for the strengthening of relations in other areas, particularly political, economic and tourism cooperation.

Still, both countries hold the right to reject the entry of some officials, for national security or health reasons, he added.

Bilateral trade with Montenegro is valued about Bt5 million per annum. Exports to Montenegro accounted for 80 per cent.


-- The Nation 2013-09-10

[laurentbkk]

This will pave way for the strengthening of relations in other areas, particularly political, economic and tourism cooperation.

How nice , another good reason for them to go and visit the ex PM without visa ... Does it mean than "normal" thai still need a visa ? so the holidays and tourism is only for the official ?

[Nickymaster]

I guess the only reason PT has done this is to make it easier for PT MPs to visit Thaksin

[Nickymaster]

Bilateral trade with Montenegro is valued about Bt5 million per annum. Exports to Montenegro accounted for 80 per cent.

5 miilion Baht!!!!! Yingluck flying there with a whole delegation will cost at least 10x the annual trade amount. LOL

Come on people, can somebody please stop these jokers wasting time and money while Thailand is sinking like a rotten ship.

Edited September 10, 2013 by Nickymaster

[Pimay1]

They did it because Thaksin thinks Puea Thai acts.

[NongKhaiKid]

This will pave way for the strengthening of relations in other areas, particularly political, economic and tourism cooperation.

How nice , another good reason for them to go and visit the ex PM without visa ... Does it mean than "normal" thai still need a visa ? so the holidays and tourism is only for the official ?

All a bit convenient isn't it ? Hardly in line with YL's fine speech on democracy, proper use of power, equality and all the other BS she was spouting in Switzerland

[bigbamboo]

I guess the only reason PT has done this is to make it easier for PT MPs to visit Thaksin

It's difficult to see beyond this. It's along haul for the faithful to Montenegro but now they've got those luxury private jets at their disposal it would be quite a nice little junket.

[lee b]

wow never saw that coming !!

[chooka]

How does this help anyone apart from a few officials taking a tax payer funded holiday?

[Jay Sata]

I hope the same scheme is in place in Dubai.

[TackyToo]

Two hubs of hubs rubbing their backs?

[GentlemanJim]

It is a frakking joke! So now all the Ministers can visit Thaksin when he holds court in Montenegro, and Yingluck has just led an international delegation to a ountry that cost 10 times more than the total annual bilateral trade between the two countries.

Has anyone heard about the concept of impeachment in this country?

[EvilDrSomkid]

I guess the only reason PT has done this is to make it easier for PT MPs to visit Thaksin

Gee, really?

[Misterwhisper]

"Bilateral trade with Montenegro is valued about Bt5 million per annum. Exports to Montenegro accounted for 80 per cent."

Okay, let me put that in straight figures: Thailand and Montenegro currently trade to the tune of about 160,000 US$ (approx. 115,000 EUR) PER YEAR.

Imports from Montenegro to Thailand are worth some 32,000 US$ per year, while Thailand exports to Montenegro goods worth some 128,000 US$ per year.

Considering this absolutely staggering trade value, I am wondering how much the recent trip by PM Yingluck and her entourage cost; couldn't have been much less than an entire year's bilateral trade, I reckon.

Since we were led to believe that one of the main objectives of this official trip was to "boost" trade between the two countries, can we expect that forthwith Thai-Montenegrin trade will skyrocket to justify those travel expenses?

Well, at least Montenegrin officials from now on can have 90 days visa-free entry to Thailand. However, I am not sure how many Montenegrin officials can afford to stay 90 straight days in the kingdom on "official business". Even Yingluck's own visit to Montenegro was barely two days long.

Montenegro's embassy staff being posted to Thailand neither needed a visa in the past nor will they need a visa in the future anyway, since they're holding diplomatic passports. So what has the PM's visit actually accomplished besides having cost the Thai tax payer a great chunk of money?

[johnnie20110]

The huge throng of travel passengers affected by the latest governmental initiative push and shove their way through the jammed departure terminal at Suvarnabhumi airport.

Edited September 10, 2013 by johnnie20110

[worgeordie]

5M bht in exports to Montenegro, must be food parcels

of Thai food for the Boss.

regards Worgeordie

[mrtoad]

You couldn't make it up, and then you realized that in bizarre and criminal world of PTP it's all pretty normal.

[khunken]

So that was why Yingluck visited Montenegro with all those business leaders. Next stop the Vatican & we'll see what emerges from that - Sainthood for the bro?

She should have included Liechtenstein as well - money laundering opportunities there.

[Songhua]

You couldn't make it up, and then you realized that in bizarre and criminal world of PTP it's all pretty normal.

At least it's 'transparent'.

[klauskunkel]

90-day visa-free entry to Montenegro

Yingluck and her cabinet are going to visit there for 90 days, then apply for a one year extension. She will then run Thailand remotely via Facebook...

[outsider]

For five million baht??? This must be Funny Day in LOS. First, a Thai Airways idiot tries to save face but got his butt-cheeks chomped-on in return, and now this - a wormhole to Montenegro...

[annabel]

90-day visa-free entry to Montenegro

Yingluck and her cabinet are going to visit there for 90 days, then apply for a one year extension. She will then run Thailand remotely via Facebook...

But is there good shopping places in Montenegro ....????

[RubbaJohnny]

iPODgorica

Taxin turds will be collectors items should the once and future PM never retrun

[Mosha]

Looks like Abhisit was right

[marell]

There's a real earth shaking triumph of brilliant international diplomacy. Splendid work.

[sonar6ca]

Wow, what a phenomenal achievement.