Statement
by His Excellency Mr. Don Pramudwinai,
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand
at the OIC Annual Coordination Meeting of Foreign Ministers
22 September 2016

Mr. Chairman,
Secretary-General of the OIC,
Excellencies,
Distinguished delegates,

         Thank you for having me with you today for the OIC Annual Coordination Meeting of Foreign Ministers. As an observer to the OIC since 1998, Thailand attaches great importance in developing constructive relations with the OIC and its members.  It is our long-standing policy to enhance our friendship and cooperation with the OIC and the Islamic world.

          I am therefore honoured to underscore that the past year has seen a vibrant interactions between Thailand and the OIC. The concrete example was the Symposium on Interfaith Dialogue and Peaceful Coexistence in Multicultural Societies, organized by Thailand in cooperation with the Research Center for Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA) in January this year. We are very much honoured to welcome the OIC Secretary-General, H.E. Iyad Ameen Madani, during his visit to Thailand to attend the Symposium, which is also clear example of constructive collaboration between Thailand and the OIC. 

Mr. Chairman,

          Thailand has a common cause with the OIC in promoting understanding between faiths, religions and civilisations, and fighting against sectarian divide. Thailand’s views on at least two major international issues are closely aligned with the OIC:

          First, on Palestine: Thailand support the international efforts towards peaceful and sustainable end to this long-standing conflict in order to achieve the two-State solution.

          We have established diplomatic relations with the State of Palestine since 2012, and we are now working on bilateral and trilateral cooperation which will further enhance Palestine’s economic development and state-building capacities. The visit of H.E. Mahmoud Abbas, the President of the State of Palestine in February 2016 marked a milestone in bilateral relations between the two countries. 

          During the conflict in Gaza last year, we have responded to the UNRWA’s Emergency Flash Appeal for Gaza.  We have also made bilateral contributions to assist the rehabilitation of Palestinian civilians in the affected area through the Palestinian Red Crescent Society. I am also pleased to inform that this year Thailand will co-host the 3^rd Ministerial Conference on Cooperation among East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development (CEAPAD) with Japan in Thailand.

          Second, on Iraq and Syria: Thailand strongly condemns brutal acts committed by the Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq against civilians. We deplore such indiscriminate acts of violence in the name of religion. We also support the international community to take concerted efforts to prevent further violence, deteriorating situations in both Syria and Iraq, and the threats to global peace and security. Allow me to add that Thailand has also made some financial contributions to our Muslim friends in providing shelters for the Syrian refugees.

Mr. Chairman,

          Thailand respects OIC’s goal to take care of Muslim minorities around the world including Thailand.  I would like to assure that all Muslims in Thailand enjoy the rights and freedom to practice Islam. It is also the Thai Government’s responsibility and commitment to protect the rights and freedom of Thai citizens of all faiths.

          Priority has been given to the promotion of peace and security, economic development and improvement of social condition for the people in certain areas of our southern provinces where we take pride in adopting a two-pronged approach; one aiming at promoting development and improvement of people’s livelihood and capacity and the other aiming at pursing the dialogue with those of differing opinions from the State.           There have been however some complexities that require time, patience and understanding to unravel the problems. But no stone would have been left unturned in this regards.

Mr. Chairman,

          I wish to reiterate our policy to have a broad-based and constructive engagement with the OIC.  Thailand is ready to be a partner in all areas of mutual interest.  Allow me to highlight some fields of cooperation that Thailand stands ready to share with the OIC for example On Food Security: As the World’s top producer for halal food and products, as well as the leading agricultural country, Thailand stands ready to work with the OIC in promoting not only food security, but also in promoting sustainable agriculture and livelihood that we have expertise.

          On Public Health: Considering that the OIC covers about 22 per cent of the world’s population, cooperation in the field of public health would greatly benefit the OIC member countries and their peoples. Thailand stands ready to cooperate to counter the rise in the prevalence and significance of non-communicable diseases (NDCs), the threats from the newly emerged diseases, and the continued widespread of behavioral risk factos for health. 

Mr. Chairman,

          As the world is facing a wide range of challenges, one cannot deny the value of partnership and cooperation which will overcome obstacles, poverty and any challenges.  Thailand would like to express support for the OIC’s noble tasks in promoting international peace and security, dialogue among faiths, social and economic development, as well as the advancement of the underprivileged.  I am confident that the OIC will have an important role to play in leading like-minded nations of all faiths to face those challenges.

          Let me then conclude here that Thailand stands ever ready to render our full cooperation to the OIC in its undertakings. I am certain that we will make increasingly positive contributions in the OIC in the years to come.

I Thank you.