THAI-FRENCH PARNERSHIP SET TO STRENGTHEN

PARIS, June 7 (TNA) - The partnership between Thailand and France is expected to strengthen as the two countries plan to extend a joint action plan involving many fields of cooperation, even as Thailand sought French support for the position of Thailand as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. Thailand's Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama, at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday, was received by Rama Yade, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, who hosted a working luncheon in honour of the Thai foreign minister. Given the centuries-old ties between both countries, Yade welcomed the opportunity to renew their bilateral partnership which had been stalled temporarily by political developments in Thailand over the past several years. As the current joint action plan between Thailand and France will expire at the end of 2008, both ministers hoped that the new joint action plan for the period 2009-2013 will be finalised in time for it to be signed during Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej's official visit to France in July. Among the many fields of cooperation to be included in the joint plan of action would be energy cooperation, especially given France's expertise and experience in solar and nuclear energy. The Foreign Minister also asked the French Government to help expedite the launch of the French-built Thailand Earth Observation Satellite or THEOS, which was originally scheduled for December 2007, but had to be delayed due to technical reasons. Noppadon welcomed France's new immigration policy, which will allow for increased number of Thai students and qualified Thai workers, in particular Thai chefs and masseurs, to enter France. Additionally, the foreign minister thanked the French government for providing educational scholarships for Thai students under the "One District, One Student" or ODOS project, as well as for seeking additional scholarships for Thai students from the southern border provinces. On regional issues, the situation in Myanmar was discussed, including the delays faced by the international community in sending in relief supplies in the wake of Cyclone Nargis. In this regard, Secretary Yade expressed appreciation to Thailand for facilitating the delivery of French assistance, using the port of Phuket as a staging area for the French naval vessel Mistral. Also discussed was trilateral cooperation in which Thailand and France could cooperate to extend technical assistance to third countries, such as Laos and Cambodia. Both also noted that France would assume the Presidency of the European Union from July-December 2008, during which time Thailand will serve as chair of ASEAN. The two sides therefore agreed to work closer together on ASEAN-EU issues as well. Cooperation between Thailand and France in multilateral organisations was also discussed. Secretary Yade thanked Thailand for supporting France's candidature in the Human Rights Council (HRC), while Mr. Noppadon sought French support for Thailand's non-permanent membership in the UN Security Council during 2017-2018 and its observership in the International Organisation of the Francophony (OIF). Later in the evening at the Thai ambassador's residence, the foreign minister met with leading members of MEDEF International, representing the French business community.