Thai FM To Visit Philippines, Indonesia

Bangkok- Thailand‘s Minister of Foreign Affairs Kasit Piromya will officially visit the Philippines and Indonesia next week to strengthen bilateral relations, his first visit since assuming his post in December.

The Rohingya migrant issue is high on the agenda for his talks in Jakarta, according to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Department of East Asian Affairs deputy director-general Medha Promthep, who said both trips would be introductory visits to reinforce bilateral relations as the three countries are members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) regional grouping.

Mr. Mehta said the foreign minister was scheduled to visit Indonesia February 10-12.

During the visit, he expected to discuss various issues including insurgent problems in Thailand‘s southern border provinces, fisheries in Indonesian waters and the Rohingya migrant issue.

The director-general said Indonesian government well understands the Thai government‘s stance to use peaceful means to resolve the violence in the predominantly Malay Muslim southern provinces.

Mr. Kasit is expected to exchange views with senior Indonesian officials, and will meet the leaders of the largest Muslim organisation in Indonesia, the country with the largest Muslim population.

Fisheries were also on the table for talks as Indonesia had recently applied more strict measures against Thai trawlers fishing in its waters.

Mr. Kasit will carry back the results of the talks, when he returns to Bangkok, to discuss with government and the private sector involved in fisheries to explore ways to adjust the industry.

The Rohingya migrant problems are high on the agenda during the minister‘s visit to Indonesia, he said.

Foreign media earlier quoted Indonesian navy officials as saying that about 200 men from the minority Muslim Rohingya group were found in a boat off northern Sumatra on Monday, saying they had spent three weeks at sea after the Thai armed forces cast them adrift.

However, the Thai government on Wednesday denied the new allegations of mistreatment towards the boat people from Myanmar.

Mr. Medha said the problem was not that of any one country alone, but was regional and required cooperation from all the countries affected to resolve.

Before the Indonesia trip, Mr. Kasit was scheduled to visit the Philippines Sunday and Monday when he would discuss bilateral cooperation on tourism.

Thailand and the Philippines mark the 60th year anniversary of diplomatic ties this year, and the ministers will discuss joint activities to celebrate the special occasion.

However, Thailand‘s insurgent problem in the southern provincse and possible rice sales will also included in the agenda, he said.

Source : Mathaba.net (February 9^th, 2009)

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