US ambassador first to pay Surayud a visit
US Ambassador to Thailand Ralph Boyce is greeted by Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont at Government House yesterday on the latter’s first day at work. Boyce was the first foreign diplomat to meet Surayud since his appointment by the military council that o
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United States Ambassador to Thailand Ralph Boyce yesterday met with Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont in what was billed as a gesture of goodwill by a key ally.
Boyce was the first foreign diplomat to meet Surayud since his appointment as interim premier.
The two shook hands for reporters at Government House, but Surayud did not speak to the press.
"We had a very good discussion," Boyce said. "I think it's very well known the United States urges a speedy return to a democratically elected government and protection of civil liberties during the interim, and the prime minister assured me this would be the case."
Boyce departs for Washington today where he will meet fellow US ambassadors to Association of Southeast Asian Nations members.
Washington expressed concern over the coup and declared some aspects of the Thai-US relationship would be reviewed.
White House spokesman Tony Snow told reporters just hours after Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted that the US was "disappointed in the coup. We hope those who mounted it will make good and make good swiftly on their promises to restore democracy".
One of the first casualties of the coup was US$24 million (Bt902 million) in suspended military assistance. The biggest chunk of that was $16.3 million earmarked for use in training Thai military forces in counter-terrorism or to participate in operations alongside the US military.
The fate of Cobra Gold - the largest annual military exercises in Asia with the US - remained uncertain.
The US is also required to carry out a revision of its assistance under Section 508 of the US Foreign Assistance Appropriation Act. The review must be undertaken when a democratically elected government is overthrown.
That assistance to Thailand was worth $14 million, but only $4.23 million of the total had been suspended to date.
According to a US official, Washington viewed the appointment of Surayud as positive sign, which should lead to the formation of a civilian government soon.
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