OIC high-level delegation to visit Thailand in mid-May

BANGKOK, May 4 (TNA) - A high-level delegation of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), led by Ambassador Sayed Kassem El-Mastry, is scheduled to officially visit Thailand from May 7-13, at the invitation of Thai Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul. Thai Foreign Ministry Spokesman Thani Thongphakdi told journalists that the OIC delegates will observe the situation in the Thai far South during their one-week trip to Thailand. Thani, who is also Director-General of the ministry's Department of Information, said that the OIC delegation will be briefed on updates of the Thai government's efforts to bring peace to the country's insurgency-plagued southern border region. During the forthcoming visit, the OIC high-level delegation is also scheduled to hold talks with the Thai foreign minister, as well as chiefs of the National Security Council, the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre (SBPAC) and the 4th Army Area Command to exchange their views and to meet the Thai Muslim community and scholars to learn on their opinions on the situation in the troubled Thai deep South. (TNA)