AFP : SPDC invites Thai FM for talk

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Subject: AFP : SPDC invites Thai FM for talks on row

Myanmar invites Thai FM for talks on row
   
   BANGKOK, Nov 15 (AFP) - Myanmar has asked Thailand's Foreign Minister to
visit Yangon as concern rises that a row between the two neighbours could
boil over at the ASEAN summit at the end of the month. Foreign Minister
Surin Pitsuwan was invited to talks aimed at easing relations strained by a
hostage siege at Myanmar's embassy in Bangkok last month, Thai foreign
ministry spokesman Don Pramudwinai said. If a visit goes ahead, it will
probably be scheduled before the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) informal summit in Manila in late November, he said.
  "There is a hope that problems will be solved after the visit," Don said.
   Thailand has agreed in principle to the invitation but no dates have yet
been set, Don said.  News reports quoted Surin on Monday as saying he
wanted to solve the dispute before the ASEAN meeting.
   "I am quite optimistic that the present conflicts with Burma (Myanmar)
will be solved in the near future," he was quoted as saying in the Nation
daily.
   "Hopefully they will be settled before the ASEAN summit meeting in
Manila later this month so that leaders of both countries can discuss other
issues," he said.
   Myanmar's junta closed the border after Thailand negotiated to allow the
gunmen safe passage to the frontier in return for the hostages they had
taken. Since the incident it has also closed its territorial waters to Thai
fishermen, costing the industry millions of baht a day. The junta has also
been critical of comments by some Thai officials that the gunmen were seen
here as democracy activists and not terrorists.  The closure of the border
has complicated a sweeping effort to deport illegal labour, mainly from
Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos, by authorities in Thailand.  Surin said
Thailand planned to change tack in its dealings with Myanmar as a result of
the crisis in relations.
   "Now we will deal with them using a new approach," he was quoted as saying.
   "In the past, many authorities were involved in solving bilateral issues
using personal contacts, and not in accordance with diplomatic, legal
practice or any bilateral agreement," he said.
   "Solutions to many problems that were settled by a personalised approach
and contact are likely to be fragile, and the problem could easily re-occur."
   Ties between Thailand and Myanmar sharply deteriorated when five gunmen
seized the Myanmar embassy here in early October.  Myanmar closed the
border with Thailand while the country started repartiation of hundred
thousands of Burmese illegal workers.
   tp/col/nj 



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