MEANWHILE, SURAKIART STILL WANTS TO BE UN SECGEN

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 001293 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/01/2016 TAGS: OPDC PREL TH UN SUBJECT: MEANWHILE, SURAKIART STILL WANTS TO BE UN SECGEN REF: 2005 BANKGOK 7732 Classified By: Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce. Reason 1.4 (d) ¶1. (U) Post received the following diplomatic note on February 27. BEGIN TEXT: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs presents its compliments to all Diplomatic Missions in Bangkok and wishes to refer to certain recent inquiries from some Missions regarding the potential impact of the decision of the Government of Thailand to dissolve Parliament on 24 February 2006 and the scheduling of general elections on 2 April 2006 on the candidature of His Excellency Dr. Surakiart Sathirathai, Deputy Prime Minister, to the post of Secretary-General of the United Nations. The Ministry wishes to confirm, in response to the above inquiries, that the full commitment and support of the Government of Thailand to the candidature of H.E. Dr. Surakiart Sathirathai, Deputy Prime Minister and the ASEAN Candidate for the post of Secretary-General of the United Nations, is no in any way affected by the political developments mentioned above. In this connection the Ministry wishes further to reiterate that the Government of Thailand will spare no effort in pushing forward the campaign of the ASEAN Candidate, and will work closely with all concerned governments with a view to realizing the goal of having him attain the post of Secretary-General of the United Nations. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs avails itself of this opportunity to renew to all Diplomatic Missions in Bangkok the assurance of its highest consideration. Ministry of Foreign Affairs 27 February 2549 (2006) END TEXT. ¶2. (C) Comment: Any comment would be superfluous. BOYCE