Ambassador of Thailand to Norway, had a meeting with Acting Assisting Governor of Svalbard at the Office of the Governor of Svalbard

วันที่นำเข้าข้อมูล 22 Aug 2023

วันที่ปรับปรุงข้อมูล 22 Aug 2023

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On 15 August 2023, H.E. Ms. Vimolbajra Ruksakiati, Ambassador of Thailand to Norway, had a meeting with Ms. Aud Ingvild Slettemoen, Acting Assisting Governor of Svalbard at the Office of the Governor of Svalbard, in order to discuss important issues relating to the welfare of the Thai community in Svalbard. The Meeting was also attended by Ms. Bheraya Homkosol, Counsellor, the Thai Embassy in Oslo, and Ms. Eva Therese Jenssen, Advisor Communication from the Office of the Governor of Svalbard.

Ms. Aud Ingvild Slettemoen, Acting Assisting Governor of Svalbard, gave a briefing about the Svalbard archipelago which has become a territory under sovereignty of Norway, according to the Svalbard Treaty since 1920. Today, there are about 3,000 Norwegians and foreigners living in Svalbard. 2,600 of this number live in Longyearbyen, which is the main city of the Svalbard archipelago. Cooperation on Arctic research between Chulalongkorn University and the University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS) was also mentioned in the meeting.

Ambassador Vimolbajra emphasized that the Embassy places high priority in looking after the welfare of the Thai community in Svalbard as there are approximately 100 Thais residing and working in Svalbard especially on the tourism industry in Svalbard which is important for the economy of Svalbard. Ambassador Vimolbajra brought to the attention of several issues of concern from the Thai community in Svalbard, including the new measure to suspend the Thai community in Svalbard from using the Thai Driving License in Svalbard after 31 December 2023 which will create a negative impact on the daily life and the working life of Thais living in Svalbard. Another issue was the incident that some members of the Thai community has encountered when traveling back to Svalbard using the Schengen Tourist visa.

Ms. Aud Ingvild Slettemoen, Acting Assisting Governor of Svalbard, has expressed her understanding on the issues relating to the welfare of Thais living in Svalbard and seemed positive in addressing these issues particularly the issue of Thai Driving License. She explained that the current measures are following the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic 1968 and the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic 1949. However, there will be a public hearing on this matter and hopefully the issue will be resolved optimistically.

Ambassador Vimolbajra has reaffirmed the commitment of the Embassy in looking after the welfare and the livelihood of the Thai community in Svalbard. On this, Ms. Aud Ingvild Slettemoen has expressed her views that the visit to Svalbard by Ambassador Vimolbajra to discuss these pertaining issues are relevant. The office of the Governor of Svalbard took note of the issues brought up by Ambassador Vimolbajra and will cooperate with the Thai Embassy in addressing these issues and keep the Embassy informed of their developments in the future.

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