RIYADH: Saudi Arabia and Thailand have introduced the resumption of diplomatic ties, after greater than 3 a long time of frozen family members connected to the robbery of jewels from a Saudi palace. Thai-born janitor Kriangkrai Techamong stole $20 million price of treasured gem stones in 1989 from the house of a Saudi prince, triggering a spate of murders in Bangkok and a feud between the international locations dubbed the “Blue Diamond Affair”.
The 2 international locations introduced in a joint commentary overdue on Tuesday “the overall re-establishment of diplomatic family members” all the way through a seek advice from through Thailand’s Top Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha to Riyadh. “This ancient step is the results of long-standing efforts at other ranges to re-establish mutual self belief and pleasant family members,” the joint commentary added, following a gathering between the Thai premier and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The 2 international locations agreed to nominate ambassadors within the close to long term. Saudi Airways in the meantime introduced that flights to Thailand would resume in Would possibly. The Thai govt stated the Saudis had flagged that they had been in search of 8 million professional staff, together with in lodges, healthcare and building tasks. Thailand indicated it had a in a position provide of professional staff to assist fill the desire, Rachada Dhanadirek, a Thai deputy govt spokeswoman, stated in a commentary.
Thailand had many times sought to revive ties, partially to learn its the most important tourism business. Saudi Arabia had lengthy accused Thai police of bungling their investigation into the jewel robbery, with allegations that the stolen gem stones had been snapped up through senior officials. Thai police later returned one of the most jewels however Saudi officers claimed maximum had been fakes, whilst the whereabouts of essentially the most treasured gem — an extraordinary 50-carat blue diamond — stays unknown.
Riyadh despatched a businessman to research in 1990 however he disappeared in Bangkok days after 3 Saudi diplomats had been shot lifeless within the town. In 2014, because of a loss of proof, a case was once dropped in opposition to 5 males, together with a senior Thai policeman, accused of involvement within the Saudi businessman’s homicide. Thai govt spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana stated Prayut had expressed feel sorry about over the 1989 and 1990 incidents and promised to reopen investigations if any new proof got here to mild. Kriangkrai served 5 years in prison over the jewel robbery and offered lots of the gem stones prior to his arrest. He changed into a monk in 2016. – AFP