RIYADH —
Saudi Arabia and Thailand have
announced the resumption of diplomatic ties, after more than three decades of
frozen relations linked to the theft of jewels from a Saudi palace.
اضافة اعلان
Thai-born janitor Kriangkrai Techamong stole
$20 million worth of precious gems in 1989 from the home of a Saudi prince,
triggering a spate of murders in Bangkok and a feud between the countries
dubbed the "Blue Diamond Affair".
The two countries announced in a joint
statement late on Tuesday "the full re-establishment of diplomatic
relations" during a visit by Thailand's Prime Minister
Prayut Chan-O-Cha
to Riyadh.
"This historic step is the result of
long-standing efforts at different levels to re-establish mutual confidence and
friendly relations," the joint statement added, following a meeting
between the Thai premier and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The two countries agreed to appoint
ambassadors in the near future.
Saudi Airlines meanwhile announced that
flights to Thailand would resume in May.
The Thai government said the Saudis had
flagged that they were seeking eight million skilled workers, including in
hotels, healthcare and construction projects.
Thailand indicated it had a ready supply of
skilled workers to help fill the need, Rachada Dhanadirek, a Thai deputy
government spokeswoman, said in a statement.
Thailand had repeatedly sought to restore
ties, in part to benefit its crucial tourism industry.
Saudi Arabia had long accused Thai police of
bungling their investigation into the jewel theft, with allegations that the
stolen gems were snapped up by senior officers.
Thai police later returned some of the
jewels but Saudi officials claimed most were fakes, while the whereabouts of the
most precious gem -- a rare 50-carat blue diamond -- remains unknown.
Riyadh sent a businessman to investigate in
1990 but he disappeared in Bangkok days after three Saudi diplomats were shot
dead in the city.
In 2014, due to a lack of evidence, a case
was dropped against five men, including a senior Thai policeman, accused of
involvement in the Saudi businessman's murder.
Thai government spokesman Thanakorn
Wangboonkongchana said Prayut had expressed regret over the 1989 and 1990
incidents and promised to reopen investigations if any new evidence came to
light.
Kriangkrai served five years in jail over
the jewel theft and sold most of the gems before his arrest. He became a monk
in 2016.
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