PM is pleased over Thailand's removal from CITES watch-list

BANGKOK, Oct 8 (TNA) -- Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha was pleased over Thailand's removal from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) watchlist over illegal ivory trade. The Government spokesman Lt Gen Sansern Kaewkamnerd said that Gen Prayut had received the news of the lifting of the CITES watchlisting with pleasure and stressed that state officials must stay the course and maintain their efforts. Thailand has received the improved status at the 70th meeting of the CITES standing committee that was held from October 1 to 5 in Russia. Thailand was one of eight nations, that included China, Kenya, Malaysia, the Philippines, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania and Vietnam, that CITES marked as a source, transit or destination country of illegally traded ivory. To prevent complacency Lt Gen Sansern said Gen Prayut had stressed that all state officials must keep up their efforts to maintain Thailand's improved status because it means that the country would now avoid from trade sanctions. (TNA)