Maris clarifies misinterpretation of Singapore counterpart’s remarks
Thailand’s foreign minister Maris Sangiampongsa says Singapore’s top diplomat never questioned anyone’s leadership, urging clarity to prevent political misuse of his remarks.
Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa on Saturday (August 9) addressed what he described as a distortion of comments made by Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, saying he had been concerned from the outset that remarks on such sensitive matters could easily be misunderstood and exploited for political attacks.
Maris said he had spoken by phone with Balakrishnan to convey his concerns, and that the Singaporean minister acknowledged the issue and authorised him to clarify the matter with major media outlets, as mistranslated excerpts had been widely circulated on social media.
“Balakrishnan had no intention whatsoever of questioning anyone’s leadership. He simply said he wanted to see diplomacy work to its fullest capacity, because diplomacy can resolve problems if it operates in a balanced environment. Whenever leadership is obstructed, for whatever reason, it makes solving problems far more complex,” Maris explained.
He stressed that Balakrishnan’s comments were meant to encourage conditions that allow leaders to work without hindrance, which is essential for effectively and fully resolving issues.
