RI HELP TOWARDS SOLVING SOUTHERN THAILAND CONFLICT APPRECIATED

Jakarta, Feb 15 (ANTARA) - Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya has expressed appreciation for Indonesia's assistance toward the solution of the conflict in southern Thailand where most people are Muslims.

"We thank Indonesia, especially Muhammadiyah (the second largest Muslim organization in Indonesia) for its help in providing training opportunities and scholarships for southern Thailand students and teachers to study in Indonesia," Kasit said here on Monday after a meeting with his Indonesian counterpart, Marty Natalegawa.

Kasit said Thailand's neighbors such as Indonesia, Malaysia and Pakistan had during the past year given assistance for the implementation of capacity building projects for children and women in southern Thailand.

He said the Thai government had during the past one year carried out a comprehensive development program worth more than US$1 billion in southern Thailand in an effort to mitigate the conflict.
"We also encourage members of the cabinet, police officials, prominent civilian figures in Thai society to reach out to the Muslim community in southern Thailand so as to help promote the peace process there," Kasit said.

For his part, Minister Marty Natalegawa commended the Thai government's efforts to stabilize the situation and promote development in southern Thailand.
"I and Minister Kasit have exchanged ideas and experience on how to handle conflicts in our respective countries," Marty said.