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PANAMA CONNECTS WITH THAILAND IN GRAND CANAL

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 Interviweing with ambassador of Panama to Thailand—Marie del Carmen Martinez

[PREFACE]

The Grand Canal has always been acting as an important hub and busy trading port, Due to its location being different as Sea Throat, it is a connecting with Central America, sketching the map of world, hundreds years ago under Spanish colonial control, On October 28, 1821, Panama officially had freed from Spanish hands and joined in the autonomous region of Greater Colombia. Later It formally seceded from the autonomous region of greater Colombia in 1903 and became an independent nation, from 1904  the United States operated the canal in construction till in 1941 when completed, while Panama had gained the independent sovereignty, in 1999 Panama took back for use and control of Panama Canal, which is constitued as main pillar of Panama’s economy resources ,viewed as the world’s busy ocean transfer between Atlantic and the Pacific oceans, The Canal is most worthy of commercial values in sea, Till now per day seen from many  huge freighters moving from it to sail ahead all over the world. U.S. is believed to be the first major canal user and followed by China in the 2nd place.

Today [Thailand-Impression] media has honor to go into the embassy of Panama in Thailand to learn and see more about this unique country located so far way.

PART 1—[HISTORY IN PROFILES]

Panama and the People’s Republic of China had established diplomatic relations on June 12, 2017. Panama and Thailand started diplomatic relation on August 20th, 1982, 37 years ago, when merchant marine consulate was firstly opened up due  to serve the fleet of Panamanian-flagged ships sailing in Asia from Bangkok, Later the Embassy was established, During this 37 year of diplomatic relations as it has been subscribed in 3 agreement, separately in 2006, 2008 and finally in 2016.Regarding of diplomatic relations for 37 years, there have been very important  in  making  further developments of bilateral relations and the jointly working agenda onto  excellent stages of the ongoing bilateral relation between the Republic of Panama and The Kingdom of Thailand at present.

 

PART2—[THE DIPLOMATIC TIES]

As the high level authority’s political visits between both countries started in 2016, the Royal Thai Highness Princess Maha chakri Shirindorn paid a visit to Panama in April 2019, where the ambassador had the honor to accompany as a part of the Panamanian delegation during the whole period of her visit. The following reciprocal visits come into lists by  one of  the Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Panama to Thailand on October 2018. At the same time a bilateral political framework was built between both countries with the establishment of a scheme of political consultation which first meeting was held in Panama, headed by the deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, Two important agreements are concluded under  negotiation, one in the area of Tourism Cooperation and the other on Visa Exemption for Ordinary Panamanian Passports. Now ,Panama has had total population of more than 4 million.

 

PART 3— [TOURSIM & CULTURE]

 An agreement of Tourism cooperation has been negotiated, at the same time the tourist visitors have increased for both countries. There are some factors have contributed to this achievement as a result of the promotion of Panama in Thailand and the Thai culture in Panama, which allowed a more comprehensive knowledge of both countries. At the present, Thai Passport holders do not need visa to enter into Panama, the main reason that Thai authorities made an agreement of Visa Exemption for Panamanian ordinary passports, while in reciprocity with Panama.

In aspects of panama, the ambassador described to me that there have more similarities between two countries, which are rendered on the same equatorial lines and possessed with colorful island in scenery, enriched by Marine life and uniquely human resources. Based on Tourist cooperation between two sides is made upon the multual interests.

 

PART 4—[SPORTS  & FASHION]

      The another attractive initiative is in fact that have been contributed to unite the cultures of both countries is linkage of Panamanian &-Thai folk group, mixed by students of AFS, who have been living in Panama with the dancing teachers;2-The Embassy of Panama hosted  the 1st TMA Mini–Football Diplomatic Cup, who brought together many embassies, around 120 players and international organizations in order to participate in a mini football tournament, promoting Panama as a tourism destination for sport activities. Attending to sports events in which Panamanian athletes participated, such as Muay Thai, Boxing and hosted a night during the FIFA World Cup 2018 participation, in which national media covered the story since it was Panama’s first ever participation. Alike cultural workshops, music performances, sports events, and the participation of Panama in the Thai Silk Fashion Shows for 4 years, having certainly contributed a performance as well to spread Panama‘s cultures and images in the Kingdom of Thailand.

 

[ON BACKGROUND]

She had gained the academic skills and professional experiences in the world of business, banking and finance, within 15 years working in the Parliament of Panama, engaged in the world of commercial managements  both in the public and private sectors which drove her up in better and more pragmatic approaches as the results, during the  4 years of her tenure, she acted as Ambassador and Consul General in the Kingdom of the Smile. She had managed to carry on initiatives where Panama is looking for a better and more quantitative relationship with Thailand in fields of trade, investment, tourism, official and private visitors, bilateral agreements, culture and wider comprehension of the image of Panama in Southeast Asia.

[ON 2 AUGUST, 2019 INSIDE EMBASSY OF PANAMA TO THAILAND]

[WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO H.E.AMBASSADOR AND EMBASSY OFFERING WITH US RELATED FILES]

REVEIL THE MYSTERY TO THE UN NEWEST MEMBER

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Interview with H.E. Mr.Joaquim Amaral— Timor Leste’s ambassador to Thailand

 

[BRIEF]

The democratic republic of east Timor or Timor Leste, which is seen as the smaller island in Asia, since it sought to fight for the republic and later, it had gained its independence successfully, dated to its history, heavily colonized in the centuries by Portuguese colonizers. During world war second, the island was fully occupied by Japan. In 1945, shortly after end of the war, the Portugal had acclaimed its colonial rules over it. In 1975, when Portugal was economically depressed and ready to give up its colonial rules at abroad, the Portuguese government allowed it to made decision upon its fate, there had appeared three factions in public: 1–the revolutionary frontier for the East Timor independence, FRETILIN 2–the democratic alliance for the maintenance of relations with Portugal 3–and the people’s democratic association which advocated in integration with Indonesia. Because the three parties have had different political viewpoints, which finally led to clash that broke up as result, this land remains underdeveloped and mystery to the outsiders, but full of its blood and tears in process of independent roadmap. On 28 November 1975, the revolutionary front (FRETILIN) won its freedom and declared the independence of Timor Leste and the first President is Francisco Xavier do Amaral. Shortly after its independence day; Indonesia sent troops invade the territory in 7 December 1975 and declared it as the 27th province in 1976. Between 1975 and 1999, the Indonesian army once again imposed an iron fist on the Timor Leste, causing great suffering in the civil war. On August 30, 1999 in a United Nations supervised referendum, the majority of Timorese voted for Independence from Indonesia. The Indonesia left Timor Leste in late 1999, then until 2002 the country was administred by the United Nations. Actually this month on 30 August, Timor Leste going to celebrate the historic day on its 20th year anniversary of the referendum when Timorese people chose for independence. During the period of 1999-2002, with intervention of the United Nations, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council including P.R.China unanimously supported the independence of Timor Leste. On May 20, 2002, United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) hand over the administration to theTimor Leste government and following by the restoration of independence. By unanimous decision of the General Assembly Timor Leste became the 191st United Nation Member State on September 27, 2002. The first Presidential election held and was elected Excellency Xanana Gusmao as known as the ‘Mandela’, On May 20, It had established diplomatic relations with People’s Republic of China is first amongst three countries Thailand and Norway

Today, warmly invited by for the ambassador H.E.Mr.Joaquim Amaraln, [THAILAND IMPRESSION] MEDIA editor made a visit within in-depth coverage of the newest nation just nearly 20 years, by depicting this country in the past and at present and in future. Thailand, as one of the first ASEAN member who joining UN peace keeping force, used to offer aids to restore peace and civil order

 

The first part: Moving its steps outside

It is just closely seen to Australia across the sea. At present, many businessmen from China, Hong Kong, Macao Singapore, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, USA, Portugal, Australia and Indonesia made investment by setting up his business in Timor-Leste. The projects they had chosen include construction of physical infrastructure, Tourism, agricultural parts, fishing industry and import and export trading, which greatly promotes Timor-Leste’s outward development. At present, with the national population total 1.3 million, it divided into 12 municipalities and one Zone Special Economic and Administrative Region of Oecussi , with the capital territory– Dili, as the center of the most political, economic and cultural city, nearby a deep sea harbor. Due to historical reasons, the west Timor is part of Indonesia sovereignty, there is located Oecusse a small region administrative on the northern part of entire Timor island by its unique geographical location, now belongs to Timor Leste. Oecusse region is designated for a special zone economic development. This ZEESM that will function as incubators for governance policies that can be implemented as tool to drive the global and integrate development of entire the country. Than acting as adjacent in connecting with Indonesia by making the non-governmental exchanges and trading between the two countries as a friendly hub.

The second part: Taking advantages of its Uniqueness

Timor-leste has a long coastline of 735km and with its highest mountain in the country is 2,963 meters above sea level and just off coral reefs. It has many pure mountains, lakes, springs and virgin beaches, which exist the potential tourism afterwards, Timor-leste offers its organic coffee which is viewed as one of main fully growing industry and just next to oil refinery and others fields, its coffee become the reliable supply of the famous star-bucks shops. It is so enriched in Marine life, oil and gas resources, it is assumed that its unearthed reserves are yielding so hugely in Asia. Many big foreign oil enterprises, which rushed into sea of Timor-Leste, come from Japan, Europe, the United States, and Australia who have obtained the right to explore the country’s offshore oil and gas that become a major source of Timor-Leste’s foreign exchange earnings to its total revenue.

For historical reasons, the people were heavily influenced by the Portuguese colonists. Portuguese languages is used as the official language and Tetum is the next one justly which is seen as a blend of the local language and Portuguese. In addition, English and Indonesian became the main languages of Timorese as working languages. In terms of religious belief, about 97 percent of the residents of the country believe in Catholicism, about 2 percent believe in Christianity, and 1 percent of the residents belong to the Muslim religion. As the local ethnic group, the few Chinese among Timorese also had descended from years hereby and integrated with the local community.

Chapter three: HIGHTLIGHT ON WORLD STAGES

In recent years, Timor Leste has been active in the diplomatic arena, while applying for its membership into the Asean family, responding to the UN chart and joining into the UN organization. Royal Thai princess Sirindhorn of Thailand visited on Janauary 2014 and recently in June2019. Later on July 2019, the deputy minister of national education of Thailand and other government officials visited it. In 2008, Timor-Leste opened its embassy in Thailand. H.E. Mr.Joaquim Amaral is honored to be Timor-Leste’s second ambassador to Thailand. On the farewell to this interviewing, the editor wrote on two lines of auspicious words on the guest book of the embassy in Thailand: [With best wishes to the people of Timor Leste with happiness and to the country with peace and prosperity] — interviewed at the embassy in Thailand on August 21, 2019.

[With special thanks to the ambassador of Timor Leste to Thailand for his kind invitation]

 

Written by Darwin Lee