Myanmar calls on demarcation of Myanmar-Thai border

BANGKOK, Sept 5 (TNA) –Myanmar’s Ethnic Nationalities Council (ENC) President Khin Aung Myint has requested for the demarcation for land boundary between Thailand and Myanmar in line with the tourism plan “Two Countries, One Destination”. Khin Aung Myint paid a courtesy call on Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra at the Government House on Wednesday. Thai Government Spokesman Teerat Rattansevi told reporters after the meeting that the Myanmar official has pushed for Thailand’s progress on the land boundary demarcation between the two nations, to strengthen the border security and improve overall development of the areas. According to the government spokesman, Myanmar is seeking cooperation with Thailand on the tourism campaign called “Two Countries, One Destination” to promote the connectivity between people of the two countries. The ENC president also noted that the Myanmar Government does not include the Rohingya minority group as Burmese population and Myanmar authorities did not force them out the country, indicating that the refugees may have come from Bangladesh, Teerat said. The spokesman added that Premier Yingluck agreed with the boundary demarcation, emphasising that it will reduce trade obstacles as well as expand private sector investment. The Thai premier said she fully supported the “Two Countries, One Destination” tourism project, believing it will not only promote the relations between Thailand and Myanmar, but also among other countries in the ASEAN region. Thailand has played an important part in bringing investors into Myanmar and is hoping to see the correlation between the two nations through investment in Dawei Special Economic Zone. According to the spokesman, Ms Yinfluck pointed out that Thailand has provided assistance to the Rohingya refugees in accord with international standards and will not allow any minority group to use Thailand as their base against the Myanmar government. On the occasion, the Thai premier has given full support for the 27th South East Asian Games (SEA Games), which will be held in Myanmar in December this year, and the neighbouring country’s preparation for the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2014. (TNA)