Iran ambassador: Terrorism reports baseless, hurt ties | Bangkok Post: news

The cordial relations between Bangkok and Teheran had been hurt by the recent reports of Hezbollah and Iranian elements preparing terrorist activities in Thailand, Iran ambassador Majid Bizmark said Tuesday.

Mr Bizmark said the information reported in the western mass media was no more than baseless allegations and had misled public opinion and diverted Thais from pressing domestic problems.

Accoroding to the reports, Israel had tipped off Thai police about preparations for terrorist activities by Hezbollah and Iranian groups. This resulted in many foreign governments issuing travel advisories cautioning their citizens about visiting Thailand.

In an interview on the sidelines of the opening of Iran-Thai Cultural Week at Chulalongkorn University's faculty of arts this morning, the Iranian ambassador questioned who had benefitted from the allegations. Certainly not Thailand, he said.

At the launching ceremony of the cultural week, Mr Bizmark praised Thailand's cultural tolerance, tracking it back to the Ayudhaya period when Islam and Muslim delegations were allowed into the kingdom.

"Four centuries ago Europe could not tolerate (Islam) and sent Muslims out of their land, while Ayudhaya allowed other religions to peacefully co-exist," he said.

Persian merchants led by Sheikh Ahmad Qomi paved the way for the Shiite Muslim community in Thailand and gave birth to the Bunnag lineage, which was politically influential during the early Rattanakosin period, he said.

This year the Sheikh Ahmad Qomi award was aawarded by the Iran embassy to a retired general, Banjob Bunnag, a descendant of the early Bunnag family.

Mr Bizmark said he felt that traditional ties should be deepened, particularly in the area of education.

"There are great commonalities between our two nations. With a rich culture of peace and tolerance and historical convergence, we brought the culture of the West to East Asia as well as trade ties.