Samak to jumpstart 'neighbour engagement' policy

Main objective of the policy is to have more engagement with the trouble neighbor for mutual benefit and help the junta to achieve national reconciliation and democracy, said Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama.

Samak's visit took place after United Nations special envoy Ibrahim Gambari left the country on Monday with empty hands.

The international community expected Thailand would play a significant role in breaking the political deadlock in Burma, Noppadon said.

"We have the clear stance to see all inclusiveness in Burma's political process but like other Asean member we would not interfere internal affair of Burma," the minister told reporters.

With such position, Thailand would not insist Burma to have opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi participated in the politic, he said.

However, Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy would be allowed to participate in the constitution referendum despite the military drafted charter prohibited her from joining the politics, he said.

The neighbor engagement policy would be best of the two worlds between the sanction and the full engagement, he said.

"We have many mutual interests with Burma but we don't engage the neighbor only for our benefit or bring any conflict of interest in the relations," he said.

Thailand would share experience over democracy development with Burma, he said and noted that Prime Minister Samak would share with the Burmese junta on the constitutional referendum which Burma was scheduled to have in May.

Beside the political issue, the two countries would sign a agreement to promote and protect investment and the PTT would renew the negotiation to purchase natural gas from Burma' s block M9 in Yadana field in the Gulf of Mataban, Noppadon said.

Cooperation hydropower of Tasang dam in Salween River would also be discussed as Thai partner wanted to raise its stake in the project.

Prime Minister Samak would also discuss on land route transport cooperation as Thailand would offer Bt 800 million granted aid for a construction of 40 kilometer road in Burma, Noppadon said.

Supalak Ganjanakhundee

The Nation