BKK Post / 23 October 1998

Package to help demarcate border  

   Thailand yesterday came up with a plan to seek a three-
year financial package to ensure completion of the border 
demarcation with Laos.
   The plan apparently aims at avoiding red tape which 
temporarily shelved the demarcation operation early this 
year due to a budget allocation delay by the Thai 
government.
   Speaking after chairing a preparatory meeting on the 
project yesterday, Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan said 
Thailand was considering the three-year plan to facilitate 
all operations.
   

The Nation / 23 October 1998  

Border demarcation hailed  

   FOREIGN Minister Surin Pitsuwan Thursday applauded the 
efforts by Thailand and Laos to demarcate their border 
saying the two countries have made considerable progress 
and could resolve the issue in the next few years.
   Surin said both countries would have to ensure that 
local populations living along the border were provided 
with accurate information on the subject. He said officials 
of both sides also needed to consult over the actual 
demarcation in certain areas which have been affected as a 
result of natural changes in the watershed areas.
   Speaking after chairing a preparatory meeting with Thai 
officials from concerned agencies, including the National 
Security Council, Defence Ministry, and Interior Ministry, 
Surin said the government has allocated Bt18 million for 
the operational work in 1999.
   He said the ministry will propose a three-year plan to 
the government for the allocation of a budget to help 
facilitate the completion of the demarcation process.
   The two countries are scheduled to meet between Nov 9 
and Nov 12 for the Thai-Laos Joint Committee meeting and 
Joint Boundary Committee meeting.