Thaksin Promises to End Poverty in Six Years, Stop Southern Insurgency

“On foreign policy, this government will support Thai people to play major roles in the arena of the United Nations and international organizations and support Thai people in leading and participating in making regulations in those organizations,” he said.

Thaksin has lobbied for former Foreign Minister and current Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart Sathirathai to become the next UN secretary general after Kofi Annan's term ends next year.

After Thaksin’s address, opposition Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva blasted the government over its handling of the violence in the south. He also said the government has wasted public money on populist policies.