Your Excellency, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am indeed delighted to meet all of you this evening.  Many of you are old friends and acquaintances whom we have met over the years.

I am really honoured to have serving beside me Deputy Minister Sawanit Kongsiri.  Both Minister Sawanit and I have long been associated with the Foreign Ministry.  It remains a special place for us.   It is indeed an honour and a joy to come back and serve this institution here.

I began with the Ministry at Saranrom Palace, who many of you know, is the original home of the Foreign Ministry. Located opposite the Grand Palace, Saranrom Palace has its inherent splendour and charm. 

I moved here later to our new headquarters, and here we have modern and spacious facilities, the latest equipment.

I say this because, as important as tradition is to us, the Foreign Ministry has to be forward-looking in this age of globalization. It has to look to the future.    

And that, I think, is our approach towards political developments in Thailand: looking towards the future. 

Guided by the interests of the most important stakeholder, the Thai people themselves, we will expedite our country’s return to full democratic government.  We intend to follow the timeline that we have set out and take those steps that will lead us closer to our goal of a fully functioning parliamentary democracy. 

As we embark on this journey, which we hope to complete within one year, we hope to implement political reform through a new constitution that will provide a secure foundation for a stronger democracy that will follow. We also hope to complete national healing and reconciliation so that all Thais can participate fully in this new democracy.     

Although we will look to the future, we also cherish continuity.  That is why there will be continuity in our foreign policy, in our relations with all of you. 

All of you are the trusted representatives of your respective countries. 

But you are also Friends of Thailand.  You know Thailand well.  You know its society. You know its people. 

We therefore hope that you will convey what you have seen and what you have heard, in terms of our actions and how Thai people think and feel, to your respective Governments.  

We trust in your fairness and good judgment.

Our Government is committed to transparency.  My Ministry is committed to transparency. We will do what we say. With no hidden agenda and no special interests.

Please let us know if the Ministry can be of assistance to you in any way.

May I invite Minister Sawanit to say a few words.

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                                            20 October 2006