BANGKOK, April 29 (TNA) - In a gesture of unusually personal hospitality, Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej said Tuesday he would personally cook a special dinner for his visiting Myanmar counterpart Gen. Thein Sein during a private meeting which he will host at his home tonight.
However, the urgent affairs of state, including an overflowing agenda at Tuesday's weekly cabinet meeting, has caused the well-intentioned Thai premier, a celebrated chef and connoisseur of Thai cuisine, to change the menu.
Instead of a culinary triumph delivered in the guise of a Thai equivalent of foie gras, Mr. Samak's offer of personal culinary hospitality was modified -- hospitality, yes, but someone, or more likely, several other chefs -- will be attending to the kitchen tasks, while the two premiers are more occupied in the political and diplomatic kitchen.
Speaking to journalists before attending Tuesday's busy cabinet meeting, Mr. Samak said he had gone to market and purchased meat and vegetables on Monday. Now someone else will be attending to 'The Joy of Cooking'.
Gen. Thein Sein arrived in Bangkok Tuesday afternoon for a three-day official visit, his first visit to the kingdom since taking up his post in October.
The political menu may be more difficult to serve, and digest, than the culinary delights.
Thai Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama said the fact that Mr. Samak had invited Gen. Thein Sein to dine at his home demonstrated the strong relations between the two neighbouring nations, and it also showed that Thailand's foreign relations policy is on the right path.
Discussions between the two leaders are not expected to touch on political problems inside Myanmar but may nonetheless suggest ways to create national reconciliation inside that country, Mr. Noppadon said.
It is hoped that the national constitutional referendum to be held in Myanmar on May 10 would sail through smoothly, said Mr. Noppadon.
When asked about substantial criticism of the international community regarding Myanmar's human rights violations against its own people and how would such critics view Thailand as this country has a close relations with it, Mr. Noppadon said he had told his US counterpart Condoleezza Rice during a meeting that the US should sympathise with Thailand because it shares a common border with Myanmar. (TNA)-E111, E006
Political News : Last Update : 17:15:55 29 April 2008 (GMT+7:00)
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