Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul says he is consulting with authorities about attending the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, because his government has not yet delivered its obligatory policy statement to parliament.
Under the Constitution, a government must deliver its policy statement before it can officially take office.
Anutin told reporters that he is waiting for the parliament president to set a date for the statement. The government has proposed Monday, September 29, but the UN session, at which world leaders present their visions, is scheduled for September 26.
He explained that, after the Cabinet is sworn in on September 24, he will immediately convene its first meeting, to consult the Council of State and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the legal status of his government’s participation in the UNGA.
“If I can attend, it will be an opportunity to hold bilateral talks and engage with the international community,” he said.
The newly-appointed prime minister stressed the importance of Thailand’s presence at the UN, saying the country must maintain its presence on the global stage.
Referring to Cambodia, Anutin said, “Some groups have filed complaints, accusing Thailand of violating international rules. In reality, it is Thailand that has been more violated. This is a good opportunity to explain to the world that the accusations are not true.”
He added that the foreign affairs minister has already been put on standby, in case he is unable attend the UNGA in person.
The trip would be tightly scheduled, he noted, with more time spent travelling than in meetings.
Nonetheless, he said that the most productive days for talks would likely be September 25 to 27, and that he would return in time for the policy statement, if it is scheduled for September 29 to October 1.
As for issues to be raised at the UN, Anutin said they would include trade, import-export tariffs and matters relating to Thailand’s sovereignty.
When asked whether he could attend the UNGA without delivering the policy statement, the prime minister said that the matter required consultations with relevant agencies.
