Welcome Remarks by
H.E. Kulkumut Singhara Na Ayudhaya
Ambassador of Thailand to the Republic of the Philippines
at the Amazing Thailand Travel Fair
SM MegaMall Atrium
30 July 2010

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Hon. Samsern Ngaorangsri, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

On behalf of the Royal Thai Embassy and Team Thailand, it is my pleasure to welcome you all to the Amazing Thailand Travel Fair in the Philippines. Today?s event will present a unique opportunity for all of you to realize the potential and strength of our tourism industry, through amazing cuisine presentations and various cultural performances.

The tourism industry of Thailand has played a very important role in its social and economic development. In fact, the tourism industry has significantly contributed to the increase of Thailand?s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate to 3.5% - 4.5%, from last year?s - 2%.

Moreover, the tourism industry has generated US$ 16 Billion last year through sound and effective coordination between the Royal Thai Government and the business sector as well as our partner countries.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As part of its national agenda, the Royal Thai Government and the private sector have put all efforts of re-strengthening the tourism industry, which was affected by the political situation last May. To this end, the Government has launched measures such as:

1. Promoting domestic travel;
2. Subsidizing travel agencies, especially small and middle enterprises;
3. Promoting travel opportunities to Thailand in targeted countries; and
4. Building confidence measures among stakeholders.

To facilitate more tourists to Thailand, I am very pleased to inform you that Thailand?s free tourist visa regime will be extended until March 2011. Furthermore, the Royal Thai Government is providing travel insurance in the amount of up to US$ 10,000 per person for those who were affected from the political incident until March 2011.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

On a positive note, the tourism situation in Thailand has returned to normal. In fact, countries including the Philippines last June 4, have already lifted their travel advisory to Thailand. This was made possible due to the efforts exerted by the Royal Thai Government and the support of the business sector, our partner countries as well as travel agencies.

Last but not the least, I would like to take this opportunity to extend our appreciation to travel agencies for their active role in supporting the Thai tourism industry.

Once again, welcome to the Amazing Thailand Travel Fair and I wish you all the best and success.

Thank you very much.

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Representative of FM
Excellencies,
Honourable? Secretary Jesus Dureza,? ?
Honourable Secretary Rodolfo Garcia,
Honourable Assistant Secretary Evelyn Daplas,
Brigadier General Reynaldo Sealana,
Ms. Janet Lopoz,
Distinguished Guests,

It is a great pleasure to welcome you all today for the Conference on The Peace Process Cooperation: Learning and Sharing Best Practices from the Philippines. I am truly honoured to receive our special guests from the Philippines, Honourable Secretary Jesus Dureza, President of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), Honourable Secretary Rodolfo Garcia, Chairman of the Government Panel negotiating with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Honourable Assistant Secretary Evelyn Daplas of OPAPP, Briadier General Reynaldo Sealana, Co-Chairman of the GRP-MILF Ceasefire Committees and Ms. Janet Lopoz of the Mindanao Economic Development Council, as well as representatives from the Thai security agencies. I am confident that the objective of this conference, which is to learn from the best practices and experience of the Philippines Peace Process, sharing information on security and peoples? safety and building networks between Thailand and Philippine counterparts, will empower us in addressing our common desire of peace building in the southern part of our countries.

This conference is also envisioned to further enhance our close cooperation in ensuring the effective and efficient pursuit of our peace agenda in the south through sharing of experience and best practices between our two countries? comprehensive approach on areas of political, economic, diplomatic, military and legal aspects.

Needless to say, this conference is the first of its kind being the brainchild and undertaken through the efforts of my colleagues at the Royal Thai Embassy in Manila and through the invaluable participation of our counterparts and friends from the Philippine peace process and negotiating agencies. I am positive that our fruitful cooperation and participation in this? conference will be a pioneer effort in deepening our understanding of the challenges we face in maintaining a peaceful society in our two countries.

Today?s conference is designed to emphasize five thematic discussions namely:

1. Addressing root causes of the conflict To be discussed are the keys to effective policy formulation and implementation, different dimensions of root causes of multifaceted conflict and need for comprehensive approach
2. Negotiation method and tactics Including identification of common purpose, peace settlements, groups differentiation, different purposes and different tactics.
3. Institutional building and development Within the national/local levels, inter-agency collaboration and identification of focal points.
4. Implementation and monitoring Which will highlight conflict management, works of monitoring team, post-conflict peace building and rehabilitation to ensure enduring peace.
5. Development approach Under this are the parallel approach, long term approach, rehabilitation, complimentary measure for conflict prevention and post conflict settlement as well as addressing socio-economic challenges in conflict prone areas.

Excellencies,

Before we proceed with our intensive discussion, I would like to give an overview of the Thailand and Philippine approach on peace building.? ?

The Thai Peace Model is anchored on three pillars, first is the bridging leadership of our beloved King; second is compassion and understanding symbolized by the Monks; and third is inter-religious dialogue. The five provinces of southern Thailand is where the Muslim population are concentrated, interestingly enough these areas are where the economy is at a standstill and categorized as the poorest in the Kingdom. Today, very evident are the positive strides in terms of economic development and social cohesion built between the Buddhist Thai and Muslim population of the region. The achievement in southern Thailand on peace building is centered on a workable social cohesion between diverse cultural and religious groups through the absence of a formal negotiation and without political settlement or peace agreement. The peace making has been anchored along three major landmarks: education, development programs and good governance.???????? ??? ?

The Philippine experience on the other hand, is also prevalent on the five poorest provinces in the south and has centered on issues of poverty, political autonomy and cultural identity. The Philippine government has provided an opportunity to reinvigorate and seek new approaches to the peace process in Mindanao, with the government?s desire for sustainable peace and development in the south and a detailed roadmap that directly addresses the plight of Muslims. By reaching out both to the government and Muslim people?s constituents? and engaging their active support on the peace process, workable solutions has been put in place for its Muslim minority.

Excellencies,

Although the nature of our challenges in the south are different, I truly believe that we can study the best practices adopted and implemented by the Philippines, and through our cooperation in intelligence gathering/sharing, dialogue and strengthening

and exchange of networks, we can explore different options and which will significantly contribute to the common ground of achieving peace process. We can specifically learn from the experience and challenges faced by our Filipino brothers in crafting lasting solutions that address the root cause of the conflict.

Distinguished Guests, Excellencies,

May I also reiterate that in all endeavors, cooperation among all stakeholders is valuable. In this case, to achieve and promote sustainable peace is worthy of our common efforts. I hope this conference will be the start of our continued closer cooperation in this area making the elusive peace with our Muslim brothers in the south be attainable in the near future.

Speech by
H.E. Kulkumut Singhara Na Ayudhaya
At the Celebration on the Occasion of
The 78th? Birthday Anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit
12 August B.E. 2553 (2010)
At the Residence of the Ambassador of Thailand,
14 Jacaranda Street, North Forbes Park, Makati City

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Ambassador Josue Villa,? Former Ambassador of the Philippines to Thailand,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

On behalf of the Royal Thai Embassy and Team Thailand in the Philippines, I wish to extend my warm welcome and felicitations to the Thai community, our Filipino acquaintances, distinguished fellows and ?Friends of Thailand? gathering here tonight as the Kingdom of Thailand graciously celebrates the auspicious occasion of The 78th? Birthday Anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit. I am sure that our friends who used to reside in Thailand would know very well how special this occasion means.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Throughout our history, the Thai Royal Family has earned the unreserved love and respect of the people. Ever since the coronation of His Majesty King Bhumibhol Adulyadel on 5 May 1950, the monarchy has been an example of self-sacrifice and hard work in the service of the nation. Led and guided by His Majesty the King himself, the Thai Royal Family has now contributed more than three thousand development projects nationwide.

For decades, Her Majesty the Queen has learned a great deal from His Majesty?s projects, which has been very beneficial to the Thai people. It can be said that Her Majesty?s immense compassion for the poor and the sick grew while accompanying His Majesty the King on journeys throughout the Kingdom.

Her Majesty the Queen?s projects focus mainly on helping families, especially in supporting women and people in rural areas to help them earn supplementary income. Since the early 1960s, Her Majesty?s projects have widened from handicraft to forest conservation and empowerment of the underprivileged sector of the Thai society.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Her Majesty the Queen has also promoted women and family rights to make women and their families feel proud of their role in society. Through Her Majesty?s excellent foresight, she has done nearly every possible thing to raise women?s social status such as the promotion and creation of organizations as well as the initiation of projects to educate and train women ? to enable them to raise their economic status and social welfare while encouraging them to appreciate their Thai Heritage of traditional art and culture.

As part of Her Majesty?s effort to uplift the plight of rural women and promote Thai traditional handicraft, she established the Foundation for the Promotion of Supplementary Occupations and Related Techniques or ?SUPPORT Foundation.? The Foundation has been very active in all parts of Thailand since 1976.

Moreover, Her Majesty the Queen?s devotion to the country is widely recognized not only in Thailand but also in the international community. This may be attested by the fact that a number of international organizations had presented her honorable awards like the 1985 Asia Society?s Humanitarian Award, the 2004 Aid to Artisans Award for the Preservation of Crafts as well as the 1979 Ceres Gold Medal of U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

For the Thais, Her Majesty the Queen has always been ardently devoted to the King?s ideals and has always been instrumental in supporting the King, who is the Nation?s strength. Indeed, Her Majesty the Queen remains active even today at 78 years of age. Over the years, Her Majesty the Queen has played a significant role in following up and supporting the Royal projects initiated by His Majesty the King. In fact, it can be said that her purpose and life?s work has always been to assist the King in fulfilling the Monarchy?s duty to the Thai people.

On a positive note on Thailand ? Philippines relations, Their Majesties the King and the Queen paid a State visit to the Republic of the Philippines in July 1963. On that occasion, Her Majesty the Queen was presented with the Honorary Doctorate in Humanities Degree from the Centro Escolar University and the Sampaguita Medal from the Philippine National Red Cross. The Royal Visit undeniably strengthened the close relationship between the Philippines and Thailand.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

On the auspicious occasion of the 78th Birthday Anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit of Thailand on 12 August 2010, the Royal Thai Embassy and Team Thailand in the Philippines as well as the Thai Community wish Her Majesty the Queen all the happiness and good health.

Long Live the Queen!

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General Boonsrang Niumpradit,
General Alexander B. Yano, ?
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

On behalf of the Royal Thai Embassy, it is a great pleasure to express my sincerest and warmest welcome to General Boonsrang Niumpradit, Supreme Commander, Royal Thai Armed Forces and party, General Alexander B. Yano, Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines, as well as the high ranking officials of the Philippine Air Force, Philippine Army and Philippine Navy.

Your Honourable?s presence here tonight is proof that you are all indeed? friends of Thailand, and I hope this will be the positive start of a long-lasting and closer friendship between us and our two country?s armed forces.

It is also my hope that the official visits of our Supreme Commander in Manila, first in March of last year and today until 2nd July, will further contribute to the increased cooperation between our two armed forces. You can be assured that I am one with you as well as our Supreme Commander, as friends of the Philippines, in advancing our common goals and interests towards our two armed forces that are responsive of all the needs of its country and people.

In 2009, Thailand and the Philippines will celebrate the 60th Anniversary of our Diplomatic Relations. Honourable colleagues, I look forward to working closely with you in promoting closer relations between our two countries and peoples on various areas of mutual interest, particularly in enhancing people-to-people contacts, more opportunities of activities and networking between our two armed forces, and exchange of high-level visits and dialogue.????????? ?

Ladies and Gentlemen,
On this occasion, my dear colleagues, I am honoured to meet all of you tonight and I hope our interaction and dialogue will contribute to better understanding and closer ties of friendship, as we work together towards a brighter future for our two countries and peoples.

Last but not the least, I would like to express my condolences to the families of the victims of Typhoon Frank and also extend my support to the rescue- mission efforts of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. In addition, the Thai Prime Minister and Thai Foreign Minister also convey condolence through President Arroyo and Foreign Secretary Romulo, to the families of the victims.

Thank you very much.