Talks took place on May 13 between Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov and Deputy Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand Surakiart Sathirathai.

During the conversation, which passed in a warm and friendly atmosphere, a keen exchange of views was held on the state of, and prospects for relations between Russia and Thailand, which are developing very intensively, thanks to, inter alia, the impulses received as a result of the summit meetings. A possible schedule of Russian-Thai contacts for the near term was discussed.

At the meeting, regional problems were touched upon and questions were discussed relating to the participation of both countries in the mechanisms of multilateral cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region, with emphasis laid on the importance of preparing and effectively holding the first Russia-ASEAN Summit in December 2005 in Kuala Lumpur.

There was considered the theme of the reformation of the United Nations, in the framework of which any changes must rest on the broadest possible consensus of member states.

The Thai side touched on the theme of an upcoming UN Secretary General election at the end of 2006. Sergey Lavrov spoke in support of the Asian Regional Group at the UN, to which in accordance with the established practice belongs the right to put forward its candidate to the post of the next UN Secretary General.

May 13, 2005