Abhisit to meet UN chief Ban Ki-moon after Myanmar visit

BANGKOK, July 4 (TNA) – Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said he is ready to discuss with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in transit from Yangon to New York late Saturday regarding relations between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the world body, Myanmar and on the Thai-Cambodian border problem.
 
Mr. Ban ends his two-day visit to Myanmar late Saturday and will make a brief stopover at Suvarnabhumi international airport at about 10 pm. The Secretary-General has reportedly asked the Myanmar government to release many detained political prisoners including democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
 
Several regional issues are expected to be discussed by the two men as Mr. Abhisit said he is well-prepared to discuss with Mr. Ban on the ongoing Thai-Cambodian border problem, if raised, by the UN chief.
 
Mr. Abhisit said he is confident that a joint inauguration on the construction of a highway in Cambodia with Prime Minister Hun Sen, held early Saturday, would help lower border tensions between the two neighbouring countries.
 
But troop reductions at the border, especially at the ancient Preah Vihear temple will have to depend on talks between military commanders of the two countries, Mr. Abhisit said.
 
Meanwhile, Mr. Suthep told journalists on arriving from Cambodia that his brief visit was only aimed at promoting bilateral relations and that he had discussed with Mr. Hun Sen neither Preah Vihear temple nor troop reductions.
 
What Mr. Hun Sen told his people during the ceremony was that the two countries enjoy warm and friendly relations and the highway would help promote tourism, trade and industrial cooperation, Mr. Suthep reported.
 
The 131-kilometre highway linking Anlong Veng and Siem Reap provinces will reach Thailand at a border checkpoint in Si Sa Ket province upon completion, set for 2010. Thailand in August 2006 signed a Bt1.3 billion loan agreement to finance the highway construction. (TNA)