EU-Thai ties back on track, say diplomats
Bangkok Post | 28/09/2010
EU-Thai ties back on track, say diplomats
Abhisit, Barroso will hold talks in Brussels
The 8th Asia Europe Meeting to be held in Brussels next week will provide the first platform for high-level bilateral talks between the EU and Thailand since Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted as prime minister, the chief of the European Commission in Thailand says.
David Lipman said Thailand’s political reconciliation was one of the three main issues to be discussed by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso on Monday.
The two other issues are how to kick-start the long-pending negotiations on the Partnership Cooperation Agreement (PCA) and exploring ways to launch an EU-Thailand free trade agreement (FTA), Mr Lipman said.
Burma would also be raised in light of the Oct 11 visit by the Thai leader to Naypyidaw after the Asem summit.
Ousted premier Thaksin was the last Thai leader to hold talks with Mr Barroso. That was in October 2005, 11months before the 2006 coup which cooled relations between Thailand and the European bloc.
The European Parliament passed a resolution one day after the May 19, 2010, military operation to contain the red shirt demonstration. It encouraged Thailand to resolve its political situation through democratic and peaceful means while acknowledging Prime Minister Abhisit’s reconciliation plan.
Baroness Catherine Ashton, the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, said on May 21 she hoped the Thai nation would look ahead and seek a pragmatic solution, possibly based on the five-point road map proposed by Mr Abhisit.
Mr Lipman said the EC president would be looking forward to hearing how the various committees appointed by the government have been working towards national reconciliation.
"The EU would like to see the Kanit-led [Truth for Reconciliation] panel, the Anand-chaired [National Committee for Reform] committee and the Prawase-led [National Assembly for Reform] commission be able to conduct unfettered their jobs independently and vigorously," Mr Lipman said.
"These are significant tools in light of the recent conflicts and surely require support by the government."
Belgian ambassador Rudi Veestraeten said Thailand’s stability was important for the safety and security of European nationals and business people living and working here.
"The EU would like to see a balance of our credo protecting the interests of EU businesses and individuals as well as upholding the values of human rights and democracy being observed in Thailand," Mr Veestraeten said.
Mr Abhisit would also have a courtesy meeting with European Council President Herman van Rompuy before heading for the 8th Asem meeting on the same day, during which a variety of subjects including food, energy and maritime security may be brought up, the two ambassadors said.
The first Asem summit was held in Bangkok in 1996. European and Asian capitals alternate hosting the summit every two years.
The partnership and trade talks would be a clear indication that the hiccup in bilateral relations since the coup has now ended and ties are in good shape.
Mr Lipman said the FTA could begin in parallel with the pending PCA talks. However, a trade agreement could not be signed before the partnership agreement negotiations are complete as the PCA was the overriding structure for the entire spectrum of relations between the two sides.
Indonesia was the first Asean nation to sign a PCA with the European body last year. The Philippines is soon to follow suit, while talks are continuing with Vietnam, Singapore and Thailand.
No Asean country has signed an FTA deal with the European bloc. Efforts came to a standstill because of the different levels of economic development among the Asean member states.
