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Published on November 3, 2007

Fukuda raised the issue in discussions with Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsonggram, who called on him yesterday during a visit to Japan for the Inaugural Meeting of the Japan-Thailand Joint Committee on Economic Partnership.

"I have told the prime minister that the new elected government will honour all pacts signed with Japan, including the Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement [Jtepa] which came into force on November 1," Nitya said after the meeting.

The Jtepa was opposed by NGOs in Thailand, who said the pact offered the chance for Japan to dump toxic waste and used goods on the Thai market. They appealed to the Ombudsman to consider whether the agreement was unconstitutional, as the

government had failed to

get approval from the

National Legislative Assem-bly before the pact's signing.

However, the Jtepa was signed in April. The current Thai constitution became effective in August.

Nitya and his Japanese counterpart Masahiko Koumura adopted two documents: the Operational Procedures and the Lists for the Purpose of Transparency concerning Trade in Services. These documents are necessary procedures for the implementation of the Jtepa.

The two parties also need to set up 20 subcommittees to enforce the agreement,

said Foreign Ministry

deputy spokesman Piriya Khempon.

Nuntida Puangthong

The Nation

TOKYO