BKK Post-Than Shwe to begin visit i

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Subject: BKK Post-Than Shwe to begin visit in Chiang Mai

THAILAND-BURMA

Than Shwe to begin visit in Chiang Mai
In order to discuss narcotics suppression

Thailand is preparing to receive Burma's Prime Minister Than Shwe in Chiang
Mai in order to draw attention to the two countries' cooperation in the
suppression of narcotics, a senior Foreign Ministry official said yesterday.

No dates have yet been set for the visit, but Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai
has made known that he would be free on February 20 and 21, and Thailand is
waiting for Burma's response on the matter, added Kitti Wasinondh, deputy
Foreign Ministry spokesman.

Meanwhile, Burma's Foreign Minister Win Aung has stated his readiness to
visit Bangkok in the third or fourth week of February for talks with Foreign
Minister Surin Pitsuwan.

Ideally, Thailand would like the two foreign ministers to meet before Gen
Than Shwe comes, Mr Kitti said.

Planning for the visits follows Mr Chuan's stated wish for more exchanges
with Burma, and three clashes in the Andaman Sea that have soured relations.

A scheduled visit to Burma on February 15 by Army Commander-in-Chief Surayud
Chulanont is expected to discuss the possibility of demarcating territorial
waters and setting up a joint patrol.

A Thai-Burma Regional Border Committee meeting set to take place in Phuket
in March is expected to raise Thai proposals for the stationing of a Burmese
officer at a liaison office in Ranong and the launching of joint patrols.

Burma has proposed hosting in April a meeting of the Thai-Burmese Joint
Commission for discussions on trade and technical cooperation.