Thailand backs ASEAN humanitarian assistance for Rakhine State, follows UNSC resolutions

BANGKOK, September 14 (TNA) - Thailand supports humanitarian assistance to Myanmar's Rakhine State to be provided by the ASEAN Community (AC), while also following resolutions of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). Deputy Spokeswoman of the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs Makawadee Sumitmor, who is also Deputy Director-General of the ministry's Department of Information, told journalists of the stance on Thursday, noting that Thailand is concerned over the recent violence in the Rakhine State in neighboring Myanmar, especially affected people in the state. The deputy spokesperson indicated that Thailand, thus, considers it is an urgent issue for AC to provide humanitarian assistance to the Rakhine State. "As a member country of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Thailand supports humanitarian assistance to be provided by AC to Myanmar's Rakhine State and plans to soon discuss an appropriate form of the ASEAN-combined humanitarian assistance to the Myanmar state", the deputy spokeswoman said. The deputy spokeswoman referred to the upcoming ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting, set to be held on the sidelines of this year's UN General Assembly in New York during September 17-24. The deputy spokeswoman, meanwhile, declared as well that Thailand has fully complied with UNSC resolutions against North Korea and cooperated with experts appointed by UNSC to gather relevant information. According to the deputy spokesperson, bilateral trade and economic activities between Thailand and North Korea have dropped, after UNSC has issued resolutions against Pyongyang's frequent nuclear tests lately. (TNA)