BANGKOK, 6 June 2012 – The Burmese government has confirmed that the cancellation of its president’s trip to Thailand is not related to Aung San Suu Kyi’s recent visit to the country, while stressing that the country’s leader will travel to Thailand as soon as the situation in Myanmar returns to normal.
Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul stated that the Burmese government has affirmed that the postponement of President U Thein Sein’s official visit to Thailand was not caused by the preceding trip of Myanmar’s National League for Democracy (NLD) leader Aung San Suu Kyi to participate in the World Economic Forum on East Asia in Bangkok at the end of May.
Myanmar Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin cited the country’s internal situation as the cause of the abrupt cancellation. He explained that there are currently protests against an electricity shortage as well as in certain industrial zones. Meanwhile, he added that the Burmese government understands and appreciates the efforts of its Thai counterpart in preventing Ms Suu Kyi’s visit from impacting the friendship of both nations. The Burmese Foreign Minister stressed that President U Thein Sein will make an official trip to Thailand as soon as normalcy is restored in the country.
