rooster59 Posted July 15, 2017 Share Posted July 15, 2017 France looks forward to next Thai election By WASAMON AUDJARINT THE SUNDAY NATION FRANCE is looking forward to seeing the Thai government fulfil its commitment to holding a new general election within the next year in accordance with its road map to democracy, French Ambassador Gilles Garachon says. The envoy made the remark while presiding over the French National Day reception at the Pullman Bangkok King Power Hotel on Friday night. “We look forward to next year’s election returning an elected parliament,” he said during a press briefing. Apart from this, Garachon chose to limit his remarks regarding Thailand’s political situation. He simply said that both Thailand and France were going through a “transition period” as his country’s new president, Emmanuel Macron, had only assumed office in May. Under former president Francois Hollande, France was among the Western countries that condemned the ruling junta for staging the 2014 coup and called for an immediate return to democracy. While Macron has yet to make any political remarks regarding Thailand, his foreign policy in Asia, including Asean, is likely to remain strategic. France joined the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia in 2007 before the European Union followed five years later. At his press briefing, Garachon described France’s relations with Asean as “active, impressive and promising”. He noted the 27-billion euro (Bt1.04 trillion) trade between France and Asean countries in 2015, accounting for 13.7 per cent of trade between the European Union and Asean. Infrastructure, education, know-how sharing and tourism were among areas of cooperation that Garachon said could be closer. France, which has had diplomatic relations with Thailand for 160 years, is the second largest exporter to Thailand with trade valued at 1.7 billion euros while Thai exports to France are worth 2.6 billion euros. Thailand is France’s second largest partner in Asean, and there are 260 French companies doing business in Thailand. In June, France opened Station F, the world’s largest start-up centre with the capacity to support more than 1,000 start-up companies, which will be in line with the “Thailand 4.0” plan emphasising innovation and technology. On July 3, French and Thai private representatives signed agreements covering agriculture business, transport and infrastructure, Smart City projects, and renewable energy. France also supports ongoing Free Trade Area dialogue between the EU and Asean. Counter-terrorism measures were also an area of concern that France looked forward to developing with the international community, Garachon said. “We have to encourage more data exchange to cope with the fast-adjusting terrorism and the transnational-crime threat,” he said. “We have to be ahead of them.” Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30320856 -- © Copyright The Nation 2017-07-16 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Somtamnication Posted July 15, 2017 Share Posted July 15, 2017 Well, power up the baguette oven, it is going to be a loooooooooong wait. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowboat Posted July 15, 2017 Share Posted July 15, 2017 The French may want to focus on their former colonies. They are making great strides and are full of hope. Hope in Thailand has been squandered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colinneil Posted July 15, 2017 Share Posted July 15, 2017 France is looking forward to next years election. That is a very optimistic comment, next year, next year, and maybe even next year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cadbury Posted July 15, 2017 Share Posted July 15, 2017 No matter how well intentioned the French may be they are in no position to give advice about the politics of Asian countries. People have not forgotten that part of history being their tyrannical occupation of "their" so called French Indochina countries where people were treated like their slaves. Fortunately the Vietnamese gave them a well deserved military flogging at Dien Bien Phu in 1954 and kicked them out Asia permanently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
esprit Posted July 16, 2017 Share Posted July 16, 2017 1 hour ago, Cadbury said: No matter how well intentioned the French may be they are in no position to give advice about the politics of Asian countries. People have not forgotten that part of history being their tyrannical occupation of "their" so called French Indochina countries where people were treated like their slaves. Fortunately the Vietnamese gave them a well deserved military flogging at Dien Bien Phu in 1954 and kicked them out Asia permanently. And if I recall the North Vietnamese gave the US a flogging in the 1970s but they still persist in interfering because they think they are right. So it is a pity the French did not follow the same course because although they still would be waiting a long time for the Thai elections, at least we could all be sitting around drinking French wine and eating nice bread while waiting for it to happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaksimMislavsky Posted July 16, 2017 Share Posted July 16, 2017 France has got something to do with Thai election? Amazing France... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nausea Posted July 16, 2017 Share Posted July 16, 2017 Beau geste or beau jest? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baboon Posted July 16, 2017 Share Posted July 16, 2017 35 minutes ago, MaksimMislavsky said: France has got something to do with Thai election? Amazing France... You might as well say that about any country with a diplomatic mission in any other... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
champers Posted July 16, 2017 Share Posted July 16, 2017 France would really like a slice of the market for providing arms to Thailand; for the ongoing global fight against terrorism, of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ralf61 Posted July 16, 2017 Share Posted July 16, 2017 20 minutes ago, champers said: France would really like a slice of the market for providing arms to Thailand; for the ongoing global fight against terrorism, of course. Agree, but what do you get in mind by "providing"? For money or their Libya-manner? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baerboxer Posted July 16, 2017 Share Posted July 16, 2017 7 hours ago, yellowboat said: The French may want to focus on their former colonies. They are making great strides and are full of hope. Hope in Thailand has been squandered. Cambodia under its former terrorist dictator - democracy really blooming there! Just ask any opposition party member, regime critic or any who dare post negative comments on social media. Vietnam - doing ok for a one party communist state - just ask the more equal party big shots. Former French African colonies - doing great, buying lots of arms from France, enjoying the protection of the French military with the odd scandal regarding the some of the latter's sexual preferences. Notice that France, like the US, UK and Germany, whilst flying the "must have elections, must return to democracy themes" tries very hard to build and develop the already substantial commercial and educational ties. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baerboxer Posted July 16, 2017 Share Posted July 16, 2017 5 hours ago, esprit said: And if I recall the North Vietnamese gave the US a flogging in the 1970s but they still persist in interfering because they think they are right. So it is a pity the French did not follow the same course because although they still would be waiting a long time for the Thai elections, at least we could all be sitting around drinking French wine and eating nice bread while waiting for it to happen. The Americans were fighting for an ideology - capitalism and trying to help stem the flow of a competing ideology, communism. The imperialist French were fighting to maintain their enforced colonialism on Asian countries so they could continue to extort from and rule the peoples in those countries. The Vietnamese had help from the Russians, the Chinese and their allies against the Americans. They didn't need any help against the French! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
esprit Posted July 16, 2017 Share Posted July 16, 2017 (edited) 17 minutes ago, Baerboxer said: The Americans were fighting for an ideology - capitalism and trying to help stem the flow of a competing ideology, communism. The imperialist French were fighting to maintain their enforced colonialism on Asian countries so they could continue to extort from and rule the peoples in those countries. The Vietnamese had help from the Russians, the Chinese and their allies against the Americans. They didn't need any help against the French! So history is incorrect then, The US did not get a good flogging after all. Are your US history books specifically written for Americans only? or is complete denial of historical facts part of US culture ? Your assertion that the US was fighting for an ideology is complete and utter tripe. They never have fought for anything other than how they can get financial gain. WW1 entered 2 years late after lending money and goods to the British Empire at an interest rate for the target of bringing billions of loan dollars in. WW2 same. Irag/Kuwait initiated purely to ensure US companies could rake in billions of dollars for the O & G re-building. The US are the most financial and morally corrupt nation on earth so don't give me crap about fighting for an ideology unless you mean an ideology of financial extortion. Edited July 16, 2017 by esprit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowboat Posted July 16, 2017 Share Posted July 16, 2017 21 minutes ago, Baerboxer said: Cambodia under its former terrorist dictator - democracy really blooming there! Just ask any opposition party member, regime critic or any who dare post negative comments on social media. Vietnam - doing ok for a one party communist state - just ask the more equal party big shots. Former French African colonies - doing great, buying lots of arms from France, enjoying the protection of the French military with the odd scandal regarding the some of the latter's sexual preferences. Notice that France, like the US, UK and Germany, whilst flying the "must have elections, must return to democracy themes" tries very hard to build and develop the already substantial commercial and educational ties. So ? Are we in agreement or disagreement. If so how ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retiredandhappyhere Posted July 16, 2017 Share Posted July 16, 2017 Macron appears to be living under the mistaken impression that France is the new power in Europe, or at the very least equal to Germany. He does appear as a charismatic figure, being good looking and very young for a leading politician, but his hopes for a United States of Europe and a leading role for France could well be scuppered if his electorate decide to reject his proposed labour laws with street violence and other countries (Yes, the EU is NOT just France and Germany!) reject his plans to extend the Euro zone. As we all know, the French people do not believe in standing by meekly while their politicians try to impose unwelcome legislation on them. Macron must tread carefully, as otherwise his tenure as President could be a short one, particularly as less than 50% of the electorate bothered to vote in the last election, so overturning his apparent dramatic victory might only require a higher turnout next time around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
portroyal Posted July 16, 2017 Share Posted July 16, 2017 Comments are pure France bashing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lvr181 Posted July 16, 2017 Share Posted July 16, 2017 3 hours ago, esprit said: So history is incorrect then, The US did not get a good flogging after all. Are your US history books specifically written for Americans only? or is complete denial of historical facts part of US culture ? Your assertion that the US was fighting for an ideology is complete and utter tripe. They never have fought for anything other than how they can get financial gain. WW1 entered 2 years late after lending money and goods to the British Empire at an interest rate for the target of bringing billions of loan dollars in. WW2 same. Irag/Kuwait initiated purely to ensure US companies could rake in billions of dollars for the O & G re-building. The US are the most financial and morally corrupt nation on earth so don't give me crap about fighting for an ideology unless you mean an ideology of financial extortion. Hmmm...........best you shift to Russia or China or perhaps North Korea with your attitude. If you don't want what the 'western nations' have given you (rightly or wrongly) them move on out! They have given you the right to whinge! My suggested countries probably won't allow you to do that.Become part of your solution not the problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
esprit Posted July 16, 2017 Share Posted July 16, 2017 3 hours ago, lvr181 said: Hmmm...........best you shift to Russia or China or perhaps North Korea with your attitude. If you don't want what the 'western nations' have given you (rightly or wrongly) them move on out! They have given you the right to whinge! My suggested countries probably won't allow you to do that.Become part of your solution not the problem. Clearly you wish to remain cabbage of the western society. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rijb Posted July 16, 2017 Share Posted July 16, 2017 (edited) 7 hours ago, esprit said: So history is incorrect then, The US did not get a good flogging after all. Are your US history books specifically written for Americans only? or is complete denial of historical facts part of US culture ? Your assertion that the US was fighting for an ideology is complete and utter tripe. They never have fought for anything other than how they can get financial gain. WW1 entered 2 years late after lending money and goods to the British Empire at an interest rate for the target of bringing billions of loan dollars in. WW2 same. Irag/Kuwait initiated purely to ensure US companies could rake in billions of dollars for the O & G re-building. The US are the most financial and morally corrupt nation on earth so don't give me crap about fighting for an ideology unless you mean an ideology of financial extortion. I agree. The U.S. has to stop being late for wars. And they need to do a better job of hiding their motivation for starting wars. Death to America! PS: France, mind your own business about Thailand. Or we'll send Trump over there. Oops! Too late. Edited July 16, 2017 by rijb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave67 Posted July 16, 2017 Share Posted July 16, 2017 14 minutes ago, rijb said: I agree. The U.S. has to stop being late for wars. And they need to do a better job of hiding their motivation for starting wars. Death to America! PS: France, mind your own business about Thailand. Or we'll send Trump over there. Oops! Too late. Thats the old saying US has been late for 2 world wars so wants to be early for the 3rd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thongkorn Posted July 16, 2017 Share Posted July 16, 2017 11 hours ago, MaksimMislavsky said: France has got something to do with Thai election? Amazing France... If it was not for Queen Victoria of Britain , Thais would be speaking French anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rijb Posted July 16, 2017 Share Posted July 16, 2017 2 minutes ago, Thongkorn said: If it was not for Queen Victoria of Britain , Thais would be speaking French anyway. Getting the Thais to learn a foreign language would have been a major accomplishment. Which begs the question. Did Queen Vic speak Thai? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thongkorn Posted July 16, 2017 Share Posted July 16, 2017 Just now, rijb said: Getting the Thais to learn a foreign language would have been a major accomplishment. Which begs the question. Did Queen Vic speak Thai? Read up on History, the King of Thailand went to Britain to ask for help. Queen Victoria went to germany and both Agreed France could not invade Thailand, They went to Vietnam, they speak french dont they, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rijb Posted July 16, 2017 Share Posted July 16, 2017 Just now, Thongkorn said: Read up on History, the King of Thailand went to Britain to ask for help. Queen Victoria went to germany and both Agreed France could not invade Thailand, They went to Vietnam, they speak french dont they, Read the books, saw the movies. Attended the war. The humor/humour went over your head. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer90210 Posted July 16, 2017 Share Posted July 16, 2017 What business is it of France regarding internal Thai politics? Are they trying to meddle and make the South East Asian Pacific region another of their "African Playgrounds"?.... Sorry, too late boys, there are other superpowers on the queue to make trouble and to sell their arms in the region!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thongkorn Posted July 16, 2017 Share Posted July 16, 2017 5 minutes ago, rijb said: Read the books, saw the movies. Attended the war. The humor/humour went over your head. Being on Thai Visa for so long makes you cynical, you have to ahve a sense of Humor lobotomy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rijb Posted July 16, 2017 Share Posted July 16, 2017 3 minutes ago, observer90210 said: What business is it of France regarding internal Thai politics? Are they trying to meddle and make the South East Asian Pacific region another of their "African Playgrounds"?.... Sorry, too late boys, there are other superpowers on the queue to make trouble and to sell their arms in the region!! Don't keep us in suspense. Is it Amazon? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer90210 Posted July 16, 2017 Share Posted July 16, 2017 8 minutes ago, rijb said: Don't keep us in suspense. Is it Amazon? No, it's Uber! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaxLee Posted July 16, 2017 Share Posted July 16, 2017 17 hours ago, rooster59 said: France looks forward to next Thai election They can wait forever, because this is 4.40 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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