Russian foreign minister backs Thai stance on regional security

[webfact]

Russian foreign minister backs Thai stance on regional security

By WASAMON AUDJARINT 
THE NATION

 

 

BANGKOK: -- RUSSIAN FOREIGN Minister Sergey Lavrov expressed Moscow’s support for Thailand and Asean’s efforts to pursue a Code of Conduct regarding the contentious South China Sea, as well as the United Nations’ resolution on North Korea, during his visit to Thailand yesterday.

Lavrov came to the Kingdom on Wednesday after attending a Russia-Asean ministerial meeting in Manila.

 

In Bangkok, he met with Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha and Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai a day after leaving Manila.

 

Asean meetings in the Philippines last week succeeded in producing a framework for the establishment of the code of conduct. 

 

Members of Asean have been at loggerheads with China over territorial disputes for decades. All sides are in the process of formulating a legally binding document to regulate the behaviour of countries in the sea, since conflicting parties have built facilities on contested islands and land features.

 

Thailand is a non-claimant in sea disputes, but a close observer due to the regional implications. However, the Kingdom has only addressed the issue via Asean mechanisms.

 

Lavrov also supported the denuclearisation of North Korea, including UN Security Council Resolution 2371 released on Saturday, which sanctions North Korean exports and sources of revenues overseas, according to Foreign Ministry spokesperson Busadee Santipitaks.

 

 

On Tuesday, US State Secretary Rex Tillerson also visited Thailand and asked the government to put more effort into helping Washington pressure Pyongyang to give up its nuclear ambitions. Tillerson would like Thailand to crack down on North Korean companies that had fronts in Thailand. However, Prayut insisted that his government would not do anything exceeding the requirements of the UN resolution. 

 

Lavrov’s visit, however, was mostly intended to promote bilateral ties on the occasion of their 120th anniversary this year. 

 

His talks with Thai officials included economic aspects, with Thailand and Russia agreeing to increase bilateral trade by a factor of five from the current volume of US$2 billion (Bt66.5 billion) to $10 billion, according to Deputy Government Spokes-person Lt-General Werachon Sukondhapatipak.

 

Prayut invited the Russian private sector to invest in key industries and the Eastern Economic Corridor as well as an aircraft maintenance centre in Thailand, Werachon said.

 

Officials also discussed a push for a free trade agreement (FTA) between Thailand and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), which comprises more than 180 million people with a total estimated GDP of $4.47 trillion in 2016.

 

Russia and Belarus are among five Eurasian countries that have supported the FTA.

 

Neither Thai nor Russia officials said yesterday’s talks touched on military cooperation, but Russia has been a major source of military hardware since the ruling junta came into power in 2014.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30323466

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-08-11

[Thian]

On this picture the translators don't sit lower than the officials...did they change the rules??

[leeneeds]

Bilateral of 4 billion US dollars,  does that come with ammunition as well ?

[BasalBanality]

Is that an overt message for the enterprising Russians to return to their roosts in Thailand and carry on? 

[halloween]

3 hours ago, leeneeds said:

Bilateral of 4 billion US dollars,  does that come with ammunition as well ?

What they are buying doesn't use ammunition. Most of the imports are iron ore, but on the military side there Sukhoi Superjet SSJ-100 (2 delivered, 1 to come) and Mi-17V-5 transport helicopters.  https://thaimilitaryandasianregion.wordpress.com/2017/03/22/thailand-interested-in-many-types-of-russian-military-equipment

 

Whether that makes Russia a major source of military hardware is debatable.

[zaphod reborn]

So I assume that the real purpose of Tillerson's and Lavrov's visits had nothing to do with Thailand and everything to do with the Rosneft deal and drilling for oil in the Arctic Circle.  

[shanesox]

I mean "Thailands view on N. Korea" ??? Who gives a f****, China are the hypocrites when it comes to dealing with its neighbour


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[seminomadic]

While not overtly outlined, I'd like to meaningfully summarize spirit of the meeting, attitudes and plans of both of these proud nations succintly and earnestly:

 

Keep kissing the Chinese ring and everything will be fine.

[Rancid]

Hmm, the Thais should be careful of being too friendly with the Russians, sanctions might be coming soon...

[Morch]

32 minutes ago, zaphod reborn said:

So I assume that the real purpose of Tillerson's and Lavrov's visits had nothing to do with Thailand and everything to do with the Rosneft deal and drilling for oil in the Arctic Circle.  

 

Did Tillerson and Lavrov meet?

 

[Srikcir]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

All sides are in the process of formulating a legally binding document to regulate the behaviour of countries in the sea

What is "legally binding?"

Thus far, it has been China relying on projection of its military power to ignore the International Court and justify its occupation of the South China Sea by simple declaration of sovereignty over the region. It has  insisted that it has sole authority to demand all nations crossing the waters by either sea or air to notify and coordinate travel with China.

A nation that operates internationally by its own rules will not honor any "binding" regulation of behaviour.

China will use such an agreement to manipulate the behavior of ASEAN nations within the South China Sea region while it operates according to its own national agenda.