The United States said Wednesday it would resume military aid to Thailand suspended in the wake of the 2006 coup, after a democratically elected government was unveiled in Bangkok.
Deputy US Secretary of State John Negroponte "has determined and certified to Congress that a democratically elected government has taken office in Thailand, removing legal restrictions on assistance to the Government of Thailand imposed following the September 2006 coup," said Tom Casey, a State Department spokesman.
Thailand's newly elected Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej on Wednesday unveiled his cabinet, sworn in by King Bhumibol Adulyadej during a brief ceremony inside his Bangkok palace.
"We congratulate Thailand's new cabinet on its inauguration, and the Thai people on their success in re-establishing an elected government," Casey said.
The United States suspended about 24 million dollars in military aid in protest at the ouster of prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in a bloodless coup in September 2006.
The aid cut-off involved foreign military financing, international military education and training, and peacekeeping operations.
The sanctions were imposed automatically under a US law which forbids assistance to the government of a country where an elected leader has been deposed in a coup.
Washington maintained aid for counter-terrorism, combating weapons of mass destruction and fighting communicable diseases.
Casey said the United States looked forward to "engaging across a range of issues" with Prime Minister Samak's government, "in keeping with the proud history of our warm friendship and strong alliance."
The new Thai cabinet brought close aides to Thaksin back to government.
Samak claimed the defence ministry for himself, only the third civilian ever to hold the job in Thailand.
The foreign ministry is headed by Thaksin's Oxford-educated lawyer, Noppadon Pattama, who is defending the ex-premier and his family against corruption charges filed by the previous military-backed government.
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