Thai FM warns Myanmar issue could s

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Thai FM warns Myanmar issue could spoil ASEAN meet: reports 

 
AFP, Bangkok, 15 November 1999.   Thailand's Foreign Minister Surin
Pitsuwan has warned deteriorating relations with neighbour Myanmar may
cause problems at the ASEAN summit in Manila later this month, reports said
Monday.

He said Bangkok planned to take a new coordinated approach to solving the
row which erupted after
pro-democracy gunmen stormed Yangon's embassy here last month. 

"I am quite optimistic that the present conflicts with Burma (Myanmar) will
be solved in the near
future," Surin was quoted as saying in the Nation daily. 

"Hopefully they will be settled before the ASEAN summit meeting in Manila
later this month so that
leaders of both countries can discuss other issues," he said. 

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit will be held from
November 24 to 28. 

Myanmar's junta closed the border after Thailand negotiated to allow the
gunmen safe passage to the
frontier in return for the hostages they had taken. 

Since the incident it has also closed its territorial waters to Thai
fishermen, costing the industry millions of
baht a day. 

The junta have also been critical of comments by some Thai authorities
indicating the gunmen were seen
here as democracy activists and not terrorists. 

The closure of the border has complicated a sweeping effort to deport
illegal labour, mainly from
Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos, by authorities in Thailand. 

Surin said Thailand planned to change tack in its dealings with Myanmar as
a result of the crisis in
relations. 

"Now we will deal with them using a new approach," he was quoted as saying. 

"In the past, many authorities were involved in solving bilateral issues
using personal contacts, and not in
accordance with diplomatic, legal practice or any bilateral agreement," he
said. 

"Solutions to many problems that were settled by a personalised approach
and contact are likely to be
fragile, and the problem could easily re-occur." 

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