On 22 August 2016, Mr. Veerasak Futrakul, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of Thailand, presided over the opening ceremony of the seminar on “H.R.H. Prince Wan Waithayakon’s Legacy of Wisdom on Thai Diplomacy” at Narathip Auditorium, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand. The seminar was organized by Devawongse Varopakarn Institute of Foreign Affairs (DVIFA) in order to pay tribute to Major General H.R.H. Prince Wan Waithyakon Kromamun Naradhip Bongsprabandh in celebration of the 125^th anniversary of H.R.H.’s birth as well as in remembrance of his ingeniousness and capabilities in diplomacy and the conduct of Thailand’s foreign policy. His notable achievements that contributed to Thailand’s international prestige and reputation include:

-          serving as Thailand’s representative to the Paris Peace Conference after World War I;

-          playing a crucial role in amending the treaty to reclaim Thailand’s sovereign rights in B.E. 2480 (A.D. 1937);

-          serving as the head of the Thai delegation to negotiate the demarcation of the borders between Thailand and French Indochina in Japan;

-          playing crucial role in Thailand’s admittance to the United Nations’ membership;

-          serving as the President of the 11^th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) from B.E. 2499-2500 (A.D. 1956-1957) – the first and only Thai national to have held this honorable position;

-          serving as the ambassador to England, the Netherlands, Belgium, and the United States of America as well as the permanent representative of Thailand to the United Nations;

-          serving as the head of the Thai delegation to the Asian-African Conference in Bandung, Indonesia, in which he was selected to the rapporteur; and

-          serving as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand.

The seminar was attended by approximately 150 participants.

          The seminar included distinguished guest speakers who had the honor of working with H.R.H. Prince Wan Waithyakon and who played crucial roles in the conduct of Thailand’s foreign policy, namely:

-          H.E. Phan Wannamethee (Secretary General of the Thai Red Cross Society, former Secretary General of ASEAN, and former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand);

-          H.E. Dr. Arun Panupong, former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, and former Minister Attached to Prime Minister's Office of Thailand);

-          H.E. Dr. Tej Bunnag, former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand); and

-          H.E. Kasit Piromya, member of the National Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA), and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand.

The seminar was moderated by H.E. Vitavas Srivihok, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand.

          In addition to the seminar, DVIFA organized an exhibition of H.R.H. Prince Wan Waithyakon’s biography, work, and achievements in the foyer of Vithes Samosorn Hall. The exhibition was well-received and was beneficial to the participants of the seminar as well as Thai foreign service officials.