Prime minister has no plans for tri

[mandalay@xxxxxxxxxx]

Prime minister has no plans for trips abroad

The Nation, December 9, 1997

Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai has no plan to travel abroad to meet foreign
leaders because of the ailing economy, Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan said
yesterday.

Chuan has already met his foreign counterparts during the recent Asia
Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) meeting in Canada, and he is scheduled
to meet leaders at the Informal Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur next week,
Surin said.

"Thailand is suffering from an economic slowdown and the premier has
already met his foreign counterpart during the Apec meeting. He has no time
to make nay more visits. When Chuan was premier the last time, it took him
about six months before he visit other countries," Surin said.

Surin said that Chuan had already informed his foreign counterparts that he
would be unable to travel overseas for familiarisation trips. However, an
overseas visit could be made if it were necessary.

Traditionally, new Thai prime ministers and foreign ministers conduct
overseas trips to introduce themselves to their counterparts, usually
starting with Asean member countries.

Surin was responding to a report that quoted Army Commander-in-Chief Gen
Chetta Thanajaro as saying that the prime minister would soon travel to Burma.

An informed sources said yesterday that Burmese Foreign Minister U Ohn Gyaw
would pay a courtesy call on Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai today before the
weekly Cabinet meeting.

U Ohn Gyaw is in Thailand to co-chair the third Thai-Burma Joint Commission
meeting with Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan. The aim of the commission is
to promote bilateral relation and trade.