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| Prime Minister Thaksin
Shinawatra of Thailand dissolved parliament on February
24. The polling day will be April 2. The National
Election Commission is expected to make an official
announcement of the election outcome within 30 days
after the polling day. After the official outcome
is announced, the House of Representatives will
meet to elect the new Prime Minister, which can
be expected to take place in early May. The new
Prime Minister will then form the new cabinet and
have his new cabinet sworn in before His Majesty
the King.
According to the Thai Constitution, the present
cabinet shall remain in office until the new cabinet
is sworn in.
The dissolution does not affect the candidature
of Dr. Surakiart Sathirathai, who remains Deputy
Prime Minister until the new cabinet is formed
and sworn in.
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| Visits
to Paris, London, Washington D.C., |
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On 6-16 February,
Dr. Surakiart visited London, Paris and Washington
D.C.
In Paris, he called on the President of the French
National Assembly, Jean-Louis Debre, at the Palais
de Bourbon. He also held productive discussions
with several Advisors of H.E. the President of France
as well as leading academics on regional developments
and the UN reform process.
In London, Dr. Surakiart called on the Lord Chancellor
and met with members of the House of Lords, including
Lord Eatwells and Lord Powell.
In Washington D.C., Dr. Surakiart, as ASEAN candidate,
consulted with the ASEAN ambassadors/representatives
on the campaign strategy. He also had a working
luncheon with the ambassadors/representatives of
the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries namely
Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and
UAE. They exchanged views on the UN reform process
and developments of the campaign. Dr. Surakiart
held a series of meetings with key personalities
of the U.S. Administration as well as members of
the private sector. |
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Activities
at Home
Upon the State Visits to Thailand of Their Majesties
the King and Queen of Spain as well as H.E. the
President of France, Dr. Surakiart participated
in the high-level discussions. He had the opportunity
to meet with key cabinet ministers of the French
Government including Foreign Minister Douste-Blazy,
and Defence Minister Alliot-Marie. He also delivered
the introductory remarks in French organized by
the Franco-Thai business community in honour of
H.E. President Jacques Chirac.
At the sidelines of the State Visit of HM King
of Spain, Dr. Surakairt held discussions with
the Spanish Foreign Minister Moratinos on the
UN reform process. |
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Dr. Surakiart also met with a number
of dignitaries upon their visits to Thailand. Dignitaries
included Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Jayakumar
and Peruvian Foreign Minister Oscar de Romana. The
discussions focused on bilateral cooperation, regional
developments and the UN reform process. He also
exchanged views with Asian Development Bank Vice
President Liqun Jin on the ADB’s developments
strategy in Southeast Asia as well as its role in
the development of the Asian Bond Market. |
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Chulalongkorn
University Faculty of Law Alumni Association congratulates
and supports Dr.Surakiart
The Faculty of Law Chulalongkorn University Alumni
Association, led by its President, Mr. Chulasing
Vasantasing, Deputy Attorney-General, held a dinner-talk
February 21, 2006 in honour of Dr. Surakiart who
was an alumnus (First Class Honour and Gold Medal),
a faculty member and Dean of the Faculty.
The event, attended by more than 500 people,
both alumni and non-alumni, was to congratulate
and show support from all the alumni and friends
to Dr.Surakiart for being the Thai and ASEAN candidate
to seek the post of UN Secretary-General.
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The event was well
attended by the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament,
former President of the National Assembly, President
of Chulalongkorn University, former Deans of the
Faculty, law and political science academicians,
NGO leaders, private sector executives, alumni,
Dr. Surakiart’s friends, formers students
and colleagues, and members of the press.
The over 500 people (more than the organizers had
expected) listened to Dr.Surakiart’s almost
2 hours speech on his reasons for standing as a
candidate and his views on UN reforms. They gave
him a standing ovation (which was unusual and uncommon
in the Thai tradition), followed by line of supporters
wishing him well with flowers.
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