PM Abhisit urges state agencies to help restore confidence

BANGKOK, May 26 (TNA) – Thailand’s Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Monday emphasised that all state agencies must work together to help restore and build up confidence in the country.
 
Such cooperation would benefit the country both at home and abroad, he said.
 
Delivering a keynote speech on the foreign affairs perspective of his government, Mr. Abhisit spoke to an audience of government agency executives and ministry-level inspectors in government service, delivering his assessment of what is needed to build
the image and confidence of the country, emphasising that it is vital for all state agencies to realize.
 
Civil servants at all levels must help restore confidence and address problems comprehensively because the anti-government protests in Pattaya in April had affected the country’s confidence, both its self-image and how the country is perceived abroad, said the prime minister.
 
He said the government had attempted to explain what happened and had initiated a problem-solving approach through the parliamentary process.

A committee has been initiated to supervise Thailand’s response to the problems and to keep the international community abreast of developments.
 
Mr. Abhisit said he had made overseas trips and found many countries supported what the Thai government has done to restore the country’s confidence.

However, the prime minister conceded that some countries had inquired whether the incident would occur again.

“Throughout (our) five months of performance, we have worked hard and given importance to foreign affairs and cooperation with ASEAN and other countries. Although our performance has proven satisfactory, we will spare no effort to accelerate doing work and to boost good relations,” he said.

Mr. Abhisit urged all participants in the training to study and understand problems and obstacles, and to prepare themselves for any problems. (TNA)