ID :
61358
Tue, 05/19/2009 - 16:57
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/61358
The shortlink copeid
ABHISIT TO VISIT MALAYSIA JUNE 8
By D. Arul Rajoo
BANGKOK, May 19 (Bernama) -- Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva will
visit Malaysia on June 8 and Cambodia two days later to strengthen ties with its
two neighbours.
Abhisit, who became premier in December, 2008 after months of political
turmoil, is expected to hold bilateral talks with his Malaysian counterpart
Najib Razak, who took office in April.
"Both leaders are expected to discuss various issues, especially those
related to trade, investment and the southern conflict," Panitan said here
Tuesday.
The two leaders had met last month during the aborted Asean + 6 Summit in
Pattaya.
Panitan said the visit to Cambodia and meeting with the country's Prime
Minister Hun Sen would touch on the border issues. Tension rose between the
neighbours after soldiers from both sides exchanged fire at a disputed ancient
temple site on several occasions.
Despite taking office six months ago, Abhisit only visited Laos so far as
part of familiarisation to Asean countries due to the domestic political crisis
where several big scale street demonstrations had taken place in the past few
months, including the April 13 rioting in the capital by anti-government
protesters.
In Malaysia, Abhisit is expected to ask Malaysia to extend its development
programmes as part of the ongoing measures to end the armed conflict and restore
peace in the Muslim-majority provinces bordering Malaysia.
More than 3,500 people have been killed since insurgents resumed their armed
campaign in January, 2004 to seek independence for Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat.
In June, 2007, Thailand and Malaysia signed an agreement on cooperation in
3E programmes -- education, employment and entrepreneurship, which among others,
will help train about 4,000 Thai Muslims in technical programmes and offer
scholarships to southern students.
According to officials, Abhisit is expected to brief Najib on Thailand's
decision to cancel its plan to hold the aborted Asean + 6 Summit in Phuket on
June 13 and 14.
The Summit was cancelled as several of the 16 participating countries have
other prior commitments. The Pattaya Summit had to be aborted when
anti-government protesters stormed the meeting venue, forcing authorities to
evacuate some of the leaders using helicopters.
-- BERNAMA
BANGKOK, May 19 (Bernama) -- Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva will
visit Malaysia on June 8 and Cambodia two days later to strengthen ties with its
two neighbours.
Abhisit, who became premier in December, 2008 after months of political
turmoil, is expected to hold bilateral talks with his Malaysian counterpart
Najib Razak, who took office in April.
"Both leaders are expected to discuss various issues, especially those
related to trade, investment and the southern conflict," Panitan said here
Tuesday.
The two leaders had met last month during the aborted Asean + 6 Summit in
Pattaya.
Panitan said the visit to Cambodia and meeting with the country's Prime
Minister Hun Sen would touch on the border issues. Tension rose between the
neighbours after soldiers from both sides exchanged fire at a disputed ancient
temple site on several occasions.
Despite taking office six months ago, Abhisit only visited Laos so far as
part of familiarisation to Asean countries due to the domestic political crisis
where several big scale street demonstrations had taken place in the past few
months, including the April 13 rioting in the capital by anti-government
protesters.
In Malaysia, Abhisit is expected to ask Malaysia to extend its development
programmes as part of the ongoing measures to end the armed conflict and restore
peace in the Muslim-majority provinces bordering Malaysia.
More than 3,500 people have been killed since insurgents resumed their armed
campaign in January, 2004 to seek independence for Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat.
In June, 2007, Thailand and Malaysia signed an agreement on cooperation in
3E programmes -- education, employment and entrepreneurship, which among others,
will help train about 4,000 Thai Muslims in technical programmes and offer
scholarships to southern students.
According to officials, Abhisit is expected to brief Najib on Thailand's
decision to cancel its plan to hold the aborted Asean + 6 Summit in Phuket on
June 13 and 14.
The Summit was cancelled as several of the 16 participating countries have
other prior commitments. The Pattaya Summit had to be aborted when
anti-government protesters stormed the meeting venue, forcing authorities to
evacuate some of the leaders using helicopters.
-- BERNAMA
