GUIDELINES FOR REQUESTING ROYAL AUDIENCES AND MEETINGS
BETWEEN THAI DIGNITARIES AND VISITING FOREIGN DIGNITARIES
AND MEMBERS OF THE DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR MISSIONS
Introduction
The following guidelines for requesting royal audiences and arranging meetings between Thai and foreign dignitaries have been issued in compliance with The Vienna Convention to systematize and improve the procedures leading to all such meetings. Article 41 paragraph 2 of the Convention states that "All official business with the receiving State entrusted to the mission by the sending State shall be conducted with or through the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the receiving State or such other ministry as may be agreed. "
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs remains the main channel for these requests which should be made through the appropriate department of the Ministry. To facilitate the process a clear statement of the purpose of the audience or meeting and of the topics to be raised should accompany each specific request.
The guidelines will apply to members of diplomatic, consular and international organizations wishing to request audiences and arrange meetings.
Any queries concerning the guidelines should be addressed to the Ministry at the Department of Protocol.
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Guidelines for Requesting Royal Audiences and Meetings between Thai Dignitaries and Visiting Foreign Dignitaries and Members of the Diplomatic and Consular Missions
In keeping with the spirit of the Vienna Convention concerning diplomatic relations, all requests from the diplomatic and consular missions seeking audiences with members of the Royal Family and meetings with members of the Cabinet, Privy Council, the House of Representatives, the Senate, the Supreme Court, the independent agencies* shall be transmitted through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Requests from visiting foreign dignitaries shall be made through the relevant diplomatic and consular missions to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs
The newly arrived ambassador shall pay a courtesy call on the Minister of Foreign Affairs at the first opportunity after having officially taken up his duties; this call must take place before his meetings with other Thai dignitaries.
Subsequent requests for meetings with the Minister must contain a clear statement of the purpose of the meeting and the topics to be raised. Generic terms such as "courtesy calls" or "bilateral relations" should be avoided. These requests shall be transmitted through the respective regional departments of the Ministry.
It is customary for an ambassador, upon completion of his tour of duty, to pay a farewell call upon the Foreign Minister. The Royal Thai Government will give a farewell luncheon in honour of the ambassador to be hosted by an appropriate representative at the Ministry..
Members of the Royal Family
After an ambassador has presented his credentials to His Majesty the King, he may request and audience with the Crown Prince as well as other members of the Royal Family. The request shall be transmitted through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Requests for subsequent audiences must contain a clear statement of the purpose and the topics to be raised.
It is not customary for an ambassador to seek an audience with Their Majesties the King and Queen..
The Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Ministers and Members of the Cabinet
Requests for courtesy calls on the Prime Minister by newly arrived ambassadors may be made through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The same procedure applies to farewell calls.
Requests for subsequent meetings with the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Ministers as well as other members of the Cabinet, must be transmitted through the Ministry and must contain a clear statement of the purpose the meetings and the topics to be raised.
Requests for subsequent meetings with other members of the Cabinet to follow up on matters already discussed or matters of a technical nature, without any political content, may be made directly to the ministries concerned, provided that the Ministry is kept informed of those meetings by a Note Verbal..
The president and members of the Privy Council, the House of Representatives, the Senate, the Supreme Court, and the independent agencies.
Requests for meetings must be transmitted through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and must contain a clear statement of the purpose of the meetings and the topics to be raised.
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* The Constitution Court, the Administrative Court, the Election Commission of Thailand, the Office of the Ombudsman, the National Counter Corruption Commission, and the State Audit Commission.
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