Published on September 01, 2005

Foreign Minister Kantathi Suphamongkhon will visit Burma’s military leader Senior General Than Shwe this morning during his first official visit, while denying the rumour last week that the Burmese leader had been ousted in an internal coup.

Kantathi will also meet with General Maung Aye – vice chairman of the State Peace and Development Council – as well as Foreign Minister U Nyan Win.

Last week, Than Shwe was rumoured to have been ousted in a coup, and was reported later to have been flown to Singapore for medical treatment.

Kantathi confirmed that the meeting with the Burmese leader would take place and that talks would strengthen the bilateral relationship between the two countries.

Sihasak Phuangketkeow, the Foreign Ministry spokesman, said it was a tradition among Asean foreign ministers to visit their neighbouring counterparts upon their inauguration.

He added that topics to be discussed would be general development of various aspects of Thai-Burmese relations, including the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS).

Sopaporn Saeung

The Nation

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