MFA:Washington will send new ambassador to Bangkok within coming months

BANGKOK, February 26 (TNA) - Deputy Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai says that the United States will send its new ambassador to Bangkok before Thailand has a newly-elected government in the coming months. Don told journalists on Thursday that a process to appoint a new US ambassador to Thailand is under way, explaining that the current vacuum is not abnormal, as Washington does not deploy ambassadors to many other countries right away after predecessors' terms end because there are processes in the countries. Don affirmed that the US government does not intentionally delay the deployment of its new ambassador to Thailand in particular. Washington has not yet appointed the successor of former US ambassador to Bangkok Kristie Kenney, whose term ended in October 2014, and it has authorized US Charge d'Affaires Patrick Murphy to take charge of the Us Embassy in Bangkok currently. The Thai deputy foreign minister stated that new Thai Ambassador to the United States Pisan Manawapat traditionally met US President Barack Obama recently, but he did not know about their discussion, noting, however, that all Thai embassies are duty-bound to explain Thailand's situation, while other countries now better understand the Thai Kingdom. (TNA)