Kantathi Suphamongkhon

Kantathi Suphamongkhon (Thai กันตธีร์ ศุภมงคล, born April 3 1952) is a Thai diplomat and politician, and is of Chinese descent. [ zh icon [http://www.farer.net.cn/asia/city.asp?ID=4 泰国:境外旅游:中国旅游指南网] ] [ zh icon [http://216.109.125.130/search/cache?p=%E6%B3%B0%E5%9B%BD+%E9%83%A8%E9%95%BF+%E5%8D%8E%E8%A3%94&ei=UTF-8&fr=yfp-t-501&fl=0&fp_ip=SG&x=wrt&meta=0&u=www.torontoservice.com/index_Readnews.asp%3Fid%3D77059&w=%E6%B3%B0%E5%9B%BD+%E9%83%A8%E9%95%BF+%E5%8D%8E%E8%A3%94&d=LHmwjPmdOtDh&icp=1&.intl=us 泰国新政府的华裔光芒] ] [ zh icon [http://www.ycwb.com/gb/content/2005-04/07/content_879864.htm 华裔撑起泰国新政府半边天] ] He is the 39th Foreign Minister of Thailand, serving from March 11 2005 when Thaksin Shinawatra having been elected to a second term as prime minister, appointed a new cabinet to September 19, 2006.

As Foreign Minister, he played an active role in promoting Thailand's interests in the region as well as expanding Thailand's participation in areas of international diplomatic importance.

Kantathi was Thailand's Trade Representative at the time that he became foreign minister. His role as Thailand Trade Representative began in 2001, when the position was newly created by Prime Minister Thaksin and his geographic responsibilities included Europe, North and South America, Australia and New Zealand.

Dr. Suphamongkhon is Executive Director and one of the founding members of the Thai Rak Thai Party, as well as a former spokesperson for the Party. Concurrently, Dr. Suphamongkhon is Special Adviser to Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn of Thailand. In this role, he has accompanied Her Royal Highness on Royal trips to numerous countries around the world pertaining to medical research, the environment and various other international activities.

After leaving the Foreign Ministry, Dr. Suphamongkhon began his political career in 1995 when he was elected to the Thai House of Representatives as Member of Parliament and then again in 2001. In 1996, he was Adviser on Foreign Affairs to the Prime Minister.

Kantathi taught international law, international relations, and international organization while finishing his Ph.D. in International Relations at the University of Southern California. Upon completion of his Ph.D. in 1984, he returned to Thailand and joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for nine active years. His diplomatic career began in the Ministry’s International Organizations Department where he focused on multilateral diplomacy when Thailand was serving its two years as a member of the United Nations Security Council. Later on, Dr. Suphamongkhon served in the Ministry’s Political Affairs Department. Between 1988-1992, Dr. Suphamongkhon represented Thailand as a diplomat at the United Nations in New York, NY. Back in Thailand in 1992, he served as Adviser on Foreign Affairs to the Speaker of the House Representatives in the Thai Parliament. Dr. Suphamongkhon served as Director of the Policy and Planning Division in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during 1993-1994.

Education

Dr. Suphamongkhon holds a Ph.D. in International Relations from the University of Southern California, a Master of Arts degree in International Studies from American University in Washington, D.C. His Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science was obtained at the University of California at Los Angeles.

Post-Political Career

Following the collapse of the Thai government during the 2006 coup, he moved to Bel Air in West Los Angeles. Dr. Suphamongkhon currently serves as Professor of International Relations and Diplomacy at UCLA, and is Fellow at UCLA's Burkle Center for International Relations.

Memberships and Affiliations

* UC Regents' Professor (2007-8)
* Senior Fellow, Burkle Center for International Relations
* Advisory Committee on Protection of the Sea (ACOPS)
* American Society of International Law
* Asia Society (International Council Member)

Awards and Decorations

* Thai Royal Decoration: "Knight Grand Cordon of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant"
* "El Sol del Peru": conferred on behalf of the President of Peru in October 2005

References

Persondata
NAME=Kantathi Suphamongkhon
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=กันตธีร์ ศุภมงคล (Thai)
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Thai foreign minister
DATE OF BIRTH=April 3 1952
PLACE OF BIRTH=Bangkok, Thailand
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=