Readout of the Secretary-General's meeting with Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva

At the start of his Asia trip, the Secretary-General met today with Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva of Thailand in Bangkok. They discussed issues related to UN-Thailand cooperation, including Thailand's contribution to UN peacekeeping operations. The situation in Myanmar was also discussed, along with UN-ASEAN cooperation in the context of the upcoming ASEAN-UN Summit in Ha Noi, Viet Nam, on 29 October. He thanked Thailand for its active role as the Chair of the UN Human Rights Council. The Prime Minister briefed the Secretary-General on the ongoing national reconciliation efforts in Thailand. The Secretary-General said many of the issues that led to the recent violence and loss of life could best be resolved through committed and genuine national dialogue, and encouraged the Prime Minister to continue with these efforts. The Secretary-General also expressed his hope that any human rights violations would be addressed in a transparent manner, which will make the society even stronger and more participatory in dealing with social and political issues.