Thai Press Reports, Thailand
June 30, 2006 Friday

ARMENIA PROPOSES DIRECT FLIGHT WITH THAILAND

Section: General News – On 29 June 2006, Mr. Artur Lazarian,
Honorary Consul of Thailand in Yerevan, Armenia paid a courtesy call
on Dr. Kantathi Suphamongkhon, Foreign Minister, on the occasion of
his visit to Thailand to discuss with Thai authorities concerned ways
and means to make use of the new building of the Royal Thai Consulate
in Yerevan which was recently opened. Mr. Greg Der-Kevorkian,
Honorary Consul of Armenia in Thailand, also attended the meeting.

During the talks, Mr. Lazarian discussed plans for the new building
of the Royal Thai Consulate in Yerevan which may include several
representative offices for Thai companies and spaces for use in
cultural activities. This, noted Dr. Kantathi, would fall under the
same line of the idea of establishing a Thai Center in various
capitals.

Another issue that was discussed between the two sides included the
Armenian proposal for direct flights linking Yerevan and Bangkok. At
the moment, flights originating from Yerevan have to make connections
either in Europe or the Middle East. Thus, with the increasing
numbers of Armenian tourists to Thailand, especially in winter time,
it would make a lot of sense to have the direct connection.

Regarding bilateral exchanges, Mr. Lazarian took the opportunity to
convey to Dr. Kantathi the invitation from the Armenian side for the
Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister to pay an official visit to
Armenia in the near future. Dr. Kantathi showed appreciation for the
invitation, reaffirming that the dates of both visits would be worked
out in due course, however also taking into account the current
political situation.

Dr. Kantathi reaffirmed Thai-Armenia close relations, recalling that
the ‘Thai town’ in Los Angeles, U.S.A. was located in Armenia village
while the former Permanent Mission of Thailand to the United Nations
in New York was housed in an Armenian church.

Mr. Lazarian is on a 3 day-visit to Thailand. He is due to meet with
representatives of Thai Airways, the Thai Trade Representative as
well as officials from the Department of Export Promotion and Chamber
of Commerce the next day to discuss issues relating to the promotion
of trade and economic activities between Thailand and Armenia
further.

(Foreign Affairs Ministry: 29 June 2006)