The General Border Committee (GBC) will deal with all remaining problems of the Hmong on the basis of "transparency and mutual understanding", Nitya said.

The Thai Foreign Minister was in Vientiane on Thursday and yesterday for an official visit. The Hmong issue was one of the major points of discussion.

Laos had asked earlier to have a special meeting of the GBC to seek new solutions for the Hmong after the failed deportation, but the Thai side declined, as the Thai government had second thoughts about the plan, said Laos spokesman Yong Chanthalangsy.

Vientiane considered the intervention of third parties such as the United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees as an obstacle.

"There are many factors involved in the Hmong issue, but Laos has now understood the Thai situation and is confident in the joint committee's ability to handle the case", Nitya said.

Thailand shelters about 7,000 Hmong in Phetchabun's Ban Huay Nam Khao. Most of them claim to have close ties with secret fighters for the United States' CIA during the 1960s and 1970s and say they fled from suppression at home.

Vientiane dismisses the claim and regards them as normal illegal migrants. Initially, Thailand also shared the same stance and agreed to repatriate them to Laos but changed its attitude when the refugees strongly resisted repatriation.

The UN - as well as human-rights groups - also intervened.

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said earlier the Hmong had the "right to resettle" in third countries, if any agreed to take them.

Lao foreign minister Thongloun Sisoulith said in a separate interview that he believed the joint mechanisms of the two countries could overcome the problems as the two parties "now have a common understanding on the issue".

Supalak Ganjanakhundee

The Nation

Vientiane