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BURMA/LAOS By DAN ROBINSON/BANGKOK



/* Written  6:00 pm  Jun 10, 1994 by DEBRA@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx in igc:hrnet.asia-pac */
/* ---------- "BURMA/LAOS By DAN ROBINSON/BANGKOK" ---------- */
## author     : apakabar@xxxxxxxxx
## date       : 09.06.94

---------------------------------------------------------------------

DATE=6/9/94
TITLE=BURMA / LAOS (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=DAN ROBINSON
DATELINE=BANGKOK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:

INTRO:  THE CHAIRMAN OF BURMA'S RULING MILITARY GOVERNMENT
IS IN LAOS, AT THE HEAD OF A LARGE DELEGATION.  AS V-O-A'S
DAN ROBINSON REPORTS FROM OUR SOUTHEAST ASIA BUREAU (IN
BANGKOK), THE TALKS BETWEEN TWO OF THE COUNTRIES IN
SOUTHEAST ASIA'S GOLDEN TRIANGLE DRUG-PRODUCING REGION ARE
EXPECTED TO CENTER ON ECONOMIC ISSUES.

TEXT:  BURMA'S NEWS AGENCY SAID LIEUTENANT GENERAL THAN SHWE
WENT TO LAOS WITH A 40 MEMBER DELEGATION OF SENIOR MINISTERS
OF THE STATE LAW AND ORDER RESTORATION COUNCIL, KNOWN AS
SLORC.  THE NEWS AGENCY REPORT SAID THE BURMESE OFFICIALS
WOULD VISIT THE LAO CAPITAL, VIENTIANE, AND OTHER CITIES
DURING A SCHEDULED FIVE-DAY VISIT.

WITH THAILAND, BURMA AND LAOS FORM THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE --
THE OPIUM-PRODUCING REGION WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MOST OF
THE HEROIN FLOWING OUT OF SOUTHEAST ASIA.  IN A REPORT
ISSUED IN APRIL, THE U-S STATE DEPARTMENT SAID BURMA AND
LAOS ARE FIRST AND THIRD RESPECTIVELY IN PRODUCTION OF
OPIUM, WITH BURMA SUPPLYING 60-PERCENT OF THE OPIUM ON THE
WORLD MARKET.

THE UNITED NATIONS DRUG CONTROL PROGRAM HAS BROUGHT BURMA,
LAOS, AND THAILAND TOGETHER IN A JOINT EFFORT TO REDUCE
OPIUM CULTIVATION, PRODUCTION, AND TRAFFICKING.

BUT WHILE IT MAY BE ONE TOPIC OF DISCUSSION, COOPERATIVE
EFFORTS IN NARCOTICS CONTROL ARE EXPECTED TO TAKE A BACK
SEAT (BE SECONDARY) TO ECONOMIC ISSUES.  BURMA AND LAOS ARE
ALSO PART OF WHAT IS CALLED THE GOLDEN QUADRANGLE OF FUTURE
DEVELOPMENT, ALONG WITH THAILAND AND CHINA'S HUNAN PROVINCE.

CHINA WOULD LIKE TO OPEN UP THE WHOLE REGION TO INCREASED
COMMERCE, USING THE MEKONG RIVER, AS WELL AS ROADS AND
RAIL-LINES EXPECTED TO BE BUILT OR UPGRADED IN COMING YEARS.
BURMA AND LAOS ALSO HAVE SOME OF THE LAST REMAINING
HARD-WOOD FORESTS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA, AND HAVE DISCUSSED
FORESTRY ISSUES IN PREVIOUS TALKS.

                       ///  REST OPT  ///

THE STAGE WAS SET FOR THAN SHWE'S CURRENT VISIT TO VIENTIANE
BY TWO BILATERAL VISITS EARLIER THIS YEAR.  IN FEBRUARY, LAO
FOREIGN MINISTER SOMSAVAT LENGSAVAT MET IN RANGOON WITH
BURMA'S FOREIGN MINISTER, OHN GYAW.  SENIOR BURMESE FOREIGN
MINISTRY OFFICIALS VISITED LAOS IN APRIL, MEETING LAO
PRESIDENT NOUHAK PHOUMSAVAN AND OTHER OFFICIALS.
AFTERWARDS, THE LAO LEADER SAID THE TWO COUNTRIES SHOULD
EXPAND ECONOMIC AND OTHER FORMS OF COOPERATION. (SIGNED)

NEB/DR/MMK/JWH

09-Jun-94 8:58 AM EDT (1258 UTC) NNNN

Source: Voice of America