BANGKOK – Australian Justice Minister Michael Keenan has paid a courtesy call on Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defense Gen Prawit Wongsuwan during his visit to the Kingdom of Thailand.
DPM Gen Prawit received Mr. Keenan at the Ministry of Defense. Both parties discuss a wide range of issues including terrorism, transnational terrorism, and drug smuggling.
Mr Keenan said he was worried about the growing number of terrorist attacks and the presence of ISIS in this region. He added that Australia was also facing similar problems and that it would be a good idea to engage in higher degree of cooperation with Southeast Asian nations in fight against drugs and terrorism.
In reply, Gen Prawit said Thailand would be more than willing to assist Australia in its effort to combat terrorism, transnational organized crime, and drug trafficking. He said although Thailand had not been facing the problem of transnational terrorism in particular, it had always been on high alert and had been keeping close contact with its neighbors on this issue.
On behalf of the Thai government, Gen Prawit thanked Australia for its understanding and support while assuring Mr Keenan of the Thai government’s intentions to follow the reform roadmap which will in turn lead to general elections in the year 2017.
