(BangkokPost.com) - Saroj Chavanavirat, a veteran diplomat appointed as foreign minister last week, was endorsed in the Samak Sundaravej government on Monday by a royal command.
Mr Saroj, 66, was permanent secretary of the Foreign Ministry in 1996 before being appointed Thai ambassador to France in 2000. He retired in 2002.
He was once National Security Council (NSC) adviser on foreign affairs, and adviser to former foreign minister Nitaya Pibulsonggram in the previous government under Gen Surayud Chulanont.
He replaces Tej Bunnag, also a former permanent secretary for foreign affairs, who resigned last week.
Thailand is in urgent need of a foreign minister. The country is currently chairman of the Association of Southeast Nations under the Asean rotating system. It will host a ministerial meetings and a summit between now and the end of the year.
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Earlier report:
(BangkokPost.com) - His Majesty the King has endorsed the appointment of Saroj Chavanavirat as the new foreign minister, replacing Tej Bunnag, who resigned last week after taking office for just about two months due to political pressure.
Mr Saroj, aged 66, becomes the third foreign minister of the coalition government led by the People Power party (PPP). The first minister was former Thaksin Shinawatra’s lawyer Noppadon Pattama.
Mr Saroj was the Asean Department director-general in 1988 and retired as the Thai ambassador to Paris in 2002 after working as the permanent secretary for foreign affairs for four years.
The newly appointed minister previously declined to take on the foreign minister’s post twice, reasoning that he did not want to be involved in politics.
He later decided to succeed Mr Tej, as there were many requests for him to work for the country because he had experience in Asean and Cambodian affairs, adding that Thailand is scheduled to host the Asean summit in this December.
Mr Saroj, 66, was permanent secretary of the Foreign Ministry in 1996 before being appointed Thai ambassador to France in 2000. He retired in 2002.
He was once National Security Council (NSC) adviser on foreign affairs, and adviser to former foreign minister Nitaya Pibulsonggram in the previous government under Gen Surayud Chulanont.
He replaces Tej Bunnag, also a former permanent secretary for foreign affairs, who resigned last week.
Thailand is in urgent need of a foreign minister. The country is currently chairman of the Association of Southeast Nations under the Asean rotating system. It will host a ministerial meetings and a summit between now and the end of the year.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Earlier report:
(BangkokPost.com) - His Majesty the King has endorsed the appointment of Saroj Chavanavirat as the new foreign minister, replacing Tej Bunnag, who resigned last week after taking office for just about two months due to political pressure.
Mr Saroj, aged 66, becomes the third foreign minister of the coalition government led by the People Power party (PPP). The first minister was former Thaksin Shinawatra’s lawyer Noppadon Pattama.
Mr Saroj was the Asean Department director-general in 1988 and retired as the Thai ambassador to Paris in 2002 after working as the permanent secretary for foreign affairs for four years.
The newly appointed minister previously declined to take on the foreign minister’s post twice, reasoning that he did not want to be involved in politics.
He later decided to succeed Mr Tej, as there were many requests for him to work for the country because he had experience in Asean and Cambodian affairs, adding that Thailand is scheduled to host the Asean summit in this December.
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