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THE NATION: Chuan to have talks wi
- Subject: THE NATION: Chuan to have talks wi
- From: suriya@xxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Fri, 06 Mar 1998 21:36:00
Headlines
Chuan to have talks with
Soros
Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai is
scheduled to meet and exchange views
with international financier George Soros in
New York on Wednesday, a Foreign
Ministry spokesman said yesterday.
Spokesman Kobsak Chutikul said that
Soros, as the chairman of Council on
Foreign Relations, was co-hosting a
reception with Asia Society for Chuan. The
function will be attended by 200 leading
American business people.
Chuan is to give a speech on the current
economic situation and the progress that
has been made since the Demcorat-led
government took control last November.
Meanwhile, an informed source said that
after the reception, Chuan will meet Soros
to exchange views on the Asian economic
crisis as well as talk about opportunities to
invest in Thailand. The source added that
Soros had expressed an appreciation of
the Chuan government and admired his
decency and democratic principles. ''He
would like to show his support of
democratic Thailand,'' said the source, who
asked not to be identified.
Soros, criticised by Asean leaders at the
start of the financial turmoil, had gone to
Seoul after the South Korean government
had asked for an US$57-billion IMF bailout
package and shored up international
support for President Kim Dae-Jung by
committing himself and his financial groups
to invest in the country.
Kobsak said that during Chuan's visit to the
US, he will discuss various issues affecting
Thai-US bilateral relations, especially the
fate of eight F/A-18 jet fighters and the fate
of Thai students in the US. He also plans to
discuss cooperation programmes that
could help Thais cope with the crisis.
Thailand hopes to reach a solution with the
United States on the purchase of jet fighters
when Chuan meets US President Bill
Clinton in Washington next week, the
spokesman said.
He added that both leaders would have a
chance to discuss and decide what to do
next with the deal. Thailand had sought to
cancel the delivery of eight F/A-18 jet
fighters due to the current crisis but no
conclusion was reached after January's
round of negotiations between the Thai and
US armed forces in Bangkok.
Chuan, in his capacity as defence minister,
had reiterated that the deal should be
forgone because Thailand simply could not
afford it.
''The issue is expected to be settled in a
way acceptable by both sides in the
meeting between Chuan and Clinton,'' the
spokesman said at a press briefing.
Kobsak has just returned with an advanced
team from the US to prepare for Chuan's
trip to Washington, New York and Los
Angeles. Chuan will leave for his week long
trip on Tuesday night.
The 13,481 Thai students that study in
different universities throughout the US, are
finding it difficult to continue their education
due to the currency crisis back home.
''We will propose that the US allows our
Thai students who have difficulties in paying
for their courses to work part-time so that
they can alleviate the burden their parents
have at home,'' Kobsak told reporters.
Students in the US are not allowed to work
without a special permission.
He added that Chuan will urge the US
private sector, which has invested in
Thailand, to set up a special fund to help
Thai students to pay their way through
colleges. Thailand has been concerned
with the future human resource
development due to the economic crisis
that has so far forced some students to
return home.
The effort is part of the Thai government's
social safety net to minimise social impacts
incurred from domestic and regional
economic crisis.
Bangkok will also encourage Thai-US
business communities to set up an
education fund which will provide aid for the
students facing economic difficulties at
home, said the spokesman.
The Thai team will also urge the US private
sectors to provide scholarships under
''American Cooperation for Thailand'' for
Thai students at home in fields of
engineering and science.
BY KAVI CHONGKITTAVORN and RITA
PATIYASEVI
The Nation