Saudi Arabia, Thailand to restore relations

BANGKOK, October 11 (TNA) - Saudi Arabia and Thailand have agreed on setting up a joint working group to proceed with resuming close bilateral ties, after their diplomatic relations have been stalled for over the past two decades. Deputy Government Spokesman Lieutenant General Werachon Sukondhapatipak told journalists that the agreement was reached during Monday's tripartite meeting at the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs between Bahraini Prime Minister His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa and Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister H.E. Adel Al Jubeir, who were visiting Thailand for the 2nd Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) Summit in Bangkok, as well as Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha The deputy spokesman said that the trio agreed to hold the meeting, aimed to restore relations between Saudi Arabia and Thailand, as the Saudi Arabian King had assigned the Saudi Arabian foreign minister to explore an approach toward restoring bilateral relations between Riyadh and Bangkok during his participation in the 2nd ACD Summit in Bangkok from October 8 to 10. The deputy spokesman stated that the tripartite talks went on smoothly and constructively amid the friendly atmosphere, covering several issues, and Saudi Arabia and Thailand agreed that it is now the time for both countries to restore bilateral relations to restart an era for promoting and fostering the two countries' ties. According to the deputy spokesman, both sides have assigned the joint working group to work together on mapping out approaches on the restoration of their bilateral relations at an appropriate time. Besides, the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been assigned to contact closely with the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Bangkok on the same issue. In 1993, Saudi Arabia suspended its diplomatic relations with Thailand and withdrew its ambassador from Bangkok following a series of scandals, starting with a theft of jewels from the Saudi Arabian Royal Palace by a Thai worker, followed by the abductions and murders of Saudi Arabian diplomats and businessmen. (TNA)