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AFP-Thai FM warns Myanmar issue cou

Subject: AFP-Thai FM warns Myanmar issue could spoil ASEAN meet

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Thai FM warns Myanmar issue could spoil ASEAN meet: reports

BANGKOK, Nov 15 (AFP) - Thailand's Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan has =
warned deteriorating relations with neighbour Myanmar may cause problems =
at the ASEAN summit in Manila later this month, reports said Monday.=20
He said Bangkok planned to take a new coordinated approach to solving =
the row which erupted after pro-democracy gunmen stormed Yangon's =
embassy here last month.=20

"I am quite optimistic that the present conflicts with Burma (Myanmar) =
will be solved in the near future," Surin was quoted as saying in the =
Nation daily.=20

"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.=20

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit will be held =
from November 24 to 28.=20

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.=20

Since the incident it has also closed its territorial waters to Thai =
fishermen, costing the industry millions of baht a day.=20

The junta have also been critical of comments by some Thai authorities =
indicating the gunmen were seen here as democracy activists and not =
terrorists.=20

The closure of the border has complicated a sweeping effort to deport =
illegal labour, mainly from Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos, by authorities =
in Thailand.=20

Surin said Thailand planned to change tack in its dealings with Myanmar =
as a result of the crisis in relations.=20

"Now we will deal with them using a new approach," he was quoted as =
saying.=20

"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.=20

"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."


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<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><FONT color=3D#bb0000 =
face=3Darial,helvetica>Thai FM=20
warns Myanmar issue could spoil ASEAN meet: reports</FONT>
<P></P>BANGKOK, Nov 15 (AFP) - Thailand's Foreign Minister Surin =
Pitsuwan has=20
warned deteriorating relations with neighbour Myanmar may cause problems =
at the=20
ASEAN summit in Manila later this month, reports said Monday.=20
<P>He said Bangkok planned to take a new coordinated approach to solving =
the row=20
which erupted after pro-democracy gunmen stormed Yangon's embassy here =
last=20
month.=20
<P>"I am quite optimistic that the present conflicts with Burma =
(Myanmar) will=20
be solved in the near future," Surin was quoted as saying in the Nation =
daily.=20
<P>"Hopefully they will be settled before the ASEAN summit meeting in =
Manila=20
later this month so that leaders of both countries can discuss other =
issues," he=20
said.=20
<P>The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit will be =
held from=20
November 24 to 28.=20
<P>Myanmar's junta closed the border after Thailand negotiated to allow =
the=20
gunmen safe passage to the frontier in return for the hostages they had =
taken.=20
<P>Since the incident it has also closed its territorial waters to Thai=20
fishermen, costing the industry millions of baht a day.=20
<P>The junta have also been critical of comments by some Thai =
authorities=20
indicating the gunmen were seen here as democracy activists and not =
terrorists.=20
<P>The closure of the border has complicated a sweeping effort to deport =
illegal=20
labour, mainly from Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos, by authorities in =
Thailand.=20
<P>Surin said Thailand planned to change tack in its dealings with =
Myanmar as a=20
result of the crisis in relations.=20
<P>"Now we will deal with them using a new approach," he was quoted as =
saying.=20
<P>"In the past, many authorities were involved in solving bilateral =
issues=20
using personal contacts, and not in accordance with diplomatic, legal =
practice=20
or any bilateral agreement," he said.=20
<P>"Solutions to many problems that were settled by a personalised =
approach and=20
contact are likely to be fragile, and the problem could easily=20
re-occur."</P></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>

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