EU to delay signing Thai cooperation pact after coup: draft

By Adrian Croft

BRUSSELS Wed Jun 18, 2014 8:46am EDT

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BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union will delay signing an agreement on closer economic and political ties with Thailand and demands a swift return to democracy following the country's military coup, according to a draft document seen by Reuters on Wednesday.

Thailand's army chief, General Prayuth Chan-ocha, seized power in May, vowing to restore order and push through reforms following six months of political turmoil.

"Official visits to and from Thailand have been suspended; the EU and its member states will not sign the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with Thailand, until a democratically elected government is in place," said the draft, drawn up for adoption by the bloc's foreign ministers next Monday.

"Other agreements will, as appropriate, be affected. EU member states have already begun to review their military cooperation with Thailand," said the document, which is still being discussed by EU officials and could change.

The Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, completed last November but yet to be ratified, would boost cooperation in tourism, employment, education, migration, transport and environment as well as allow for a closer political dialogue.

It was unclear whether ongoing negotiations on a bilateral free trade agreement would be affected.

Goods traded between the EU and Thailand totaled around 32 billion euros ($43.3 billion) in 2013, according to EU data.

The draft statement said the EU would keep its relations with the southeast Asian kingdom under review and would consider further possible measures, depending on circumstances.

"Only an early and credible roadmap for a return to constitutional rule and the holding of credible and inclusive elections will allow for the EU's continued support," it said.

The EU urged the Thai military "to restore, as a matter of urgency, the legitimate democratic process and the constitution, through credible and inclusive elections". It also demanded the release of all political detainees and an end to censorship.

Prayuth said on May 30 a process of reconciliation between political factions and reforms would take about a year and a general election would only be held after that.

The EU document said this announcement fell short of a credible roadmap for a return to constitutional rule.

(Editing by Gareth Jones)
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Comments (2)
mcgriff wrote:
All one reads in the local Thai press is how the foreign gov’ts have it all wrong.
And many long time expats here seem apoplectic about the “biased” and “ill-informed” coverage from leading news publications such as BBC, NYT, Reuters, AFP, etc.
This announcement will be downplayed in the Thai press, if it appears at all.
Alice in Wonderland here in the Land of Smiles.

Jun 18, 2014 9:34am EDT  --  Report as abuse
KornJ wrote:
EU don’t know anything about situation in Thailand for the past 8 years. How do you do when both political supporter going to kill each other. “Half” the country don’t accept the government from election and protest, while the another “Half” also protest the first protester. It’s a precondition to civil war.

Please let us solve our problem by ourselves.
We don’t want to be next “Ukraine” or “Syria”. We beg you (EU), please don’t make us kill each other. Last thing we want is Civil war.
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to mcgriff

You wrong, Thai press already publish this news.

Jun 18, 2014 12:57pm EDT  --  Report as abuse
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