Singapore missed point over Thaksin visit: Thailand

The Straits Times, February 14, 2007



BANGKOK - Thailand has again accused Singapore of ignoring its concerns over deposed Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra's meeting with a Singapore leader during a visit last month.

At the same time, Bangkok also insisted it was eager to move past the issue.

Thailand's Foreign Ministry said Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo had 'missed the point' in his remarks in Parliament on Monday.

'The issue was not that Singapore allowed the former prime minister to enter Singapore, but that Singapore was aware of his meeting with the deputy prime minister and ignored Thai concerns,' the Thai statement said.

'In other countries that the former prime minister has visited - including Britain, France, China, Indonesia, Japan, Australia and the United Arab Emirates - no government in those countries arranged meetings with high-ranking figures,' it added.

Mr Thaksin met Singapore Deputy Prime Minister S. Jayakumar during his visit to the Republic. On Monday, Mr Yeo reiterated the Government's position that there was no reason to deny Mr Thaksin's entry and that Prof Jayakumar could not refuse to have a meal with an 'old friend'.

Thailand protested against the meeting by cancelling a civil service exchange programme.