In his statement at the 16th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Non-Aligned Movement held in Iran on the topic “Sustainable Peace in the Shared Global Management,” Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said that Thailand has long adhered to His Majesty the King’s philosophy of Sufficiency Economy.
The philosophy emphasizes
moderation, living within one’s means, and responsible consumption to provide
the necessary resilience to external shocks. He said that Thailand is ready to
share its expertise and best practices in various areas of technical
cooperation and capacity-building in the South-South framework, which would
complement North-South cooperation.
He stated that the Thai
government has pursued people-centered policies, aimed at addressing the basic
needs of the people. Universal health care and free education for all are among
the key policies that have been cited by others as benchmarks to emulate. Other
initiatives have been implemented, such as the Women’s Development Fund and the
Village Fund, aimed at promoting entrepreneurship among women and enhancing the
quality of life.
These policies have the
common goal of empowering the people and improving their livelihoods. Coupled
with the Government’s emphasis on democracy, equity, and human rights, this
should lay the foundations for peace and prosperity in the country.
The Foreign Minister said
that Thailand believes that such policies are relevant at the international
level, as well. The country would like to champion the values of democracy,
human rights, and economic empowerment with other like-minded partners. That is
why Thailand is currently a member of the Human Rights Council and will seek
another term in 2015-2017. It would like to serve as a bridge builder and a
voice for moderation as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security
Council for the term 2017-2018.
Thailand is convinced that
dialogue can eliminate misunderstandings and prejudices. It has followed
closely the developments taking place in the Middle East, including Syria.
Thailand expressed its sincere and steadfast hope that the people of Syria
would be able to resolve their current struggles through an inclusive process
so that peace could return to the country.
In the same vein, Thailand
has recently established formal diplomatic relations with the State of
Palestine in 2012. It fully supports the “Two-State Solution,” which envisages
an independent Palestinian state co-existing peacefully with the State of
Israel. It also called on members of the Non-Aligned Movement to adhere to their
principles in order to bring about sustainable peace for all peoples.
(thailand.prd.go.th)
