วันพฤหัสบดีที่ 2 กุมภาพันธ์ พ.ศ. 2555

Nalinee No Persona-Non-Grata, Says Yingluck

Nalinee No Persona-Non-Grata, Says Yingluck

Yingluck Shinawatra commented on Thursday Nalinee Taveesin may enter the United States at any time because, the premier said, the new member of cabinet is no persona-non-grata to the superpower country.

 

 

During a fresh interpellation with the Opposition at parliament, Yingluck responded Nalinee may visit the US, given a 10-years visa, though she has been banned from doing business with American firms or citizens.

 

''Nalinee was listed by the US Treasury Department as alleged. But that did not mean she was declared a persona non grata or involved in drugs...There has been no legal settlement to the allegations against the minister but the government will certainly observe the results of the legal settlement and act accordingly,'' said the woman leader, referring to the minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office.

 

The Democrat Party earlier charged the naming of Nalinee had breached the ethical code for high-level government officials, given the allegations the former trade representative had performed as ''crony'' doing business on behalf of a US-sanctioned Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's spouse, Grace.

 

Nalinee was alleged of having secretly done business for Grace involving real estate, jewelry trade and financial dealings.

 

In 2008, the US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control blacklisted Nalinee in alleged connection with the Zimbabwean leader and his family, prohibited American firms and citizens from dealing with the Thai businesswoman and looked to freeze any of her wealths only if found in US jurisdiction.

 

Nalinee repeatedly dismissed the allegations, saying she was merely a ''social friend'' to Mugabe and Grace, among a number of other foreign leaders around the globe.

 

 

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