Thai PM: Border Conflict with Myanmar Will End Early Next Month

Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has expressed optimism the Thai-Myanmar border conflict would be settled by early next month, saying the two neighboring countries should give priority to common interests, according to a report of the Thai News Agency (TNA) Thursday.

The Myanmar government had recently agreed to host the joint Regional Border Committee (RBC) meeting April 2-4 to discuss ways to end the months-long border problem, Thaksin was quoted as saying on Wednesday.

The premier refused to comment on the Rangoon statement that the Thai government had a name-list of some politicians who are blacklisted for involvement in drug trafficking, but ignored to take decisive action against them.

He said he did not want to make any retaliatory remarks because his administration had clearly declared war against narcotics.

He believed Myanmar leaders are aware of Thailand's strong determination to suppress drug trafficking.

Thaksin also played down mounting concerns from the Rangoon statement the country's prestige would be raised for discussion at the RBC meeting.

He said he believed officials concerned in the talks would try their best to settle the conflict as soon as possible.






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