Thai DPM to visit Malaysia Sept 9

BANGKOK, August 26 (TNA) - Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan says that he will visit Malaysia on September 9 to discuss bilateral cooperation with Malaysian authorities concerned. General Prawit, who oversees national security, told journalists on Friday that during his trip to Malaysia next month, he will discuss with the Malaysian side cooperation on solution to border problems. The Thai deputy premier revealed that he will also discuss cooperation with Malaysia on economic and transport issues. The deputy premier, meanwhile, explained that a forward command centre in the Thai Far South, planned to set up by the government, will comprise a small group of no more than 10 personnel in order for it to work quickly and effectively, but its structure is being worked out. According to the deputy premier, it is in the process of considering and recruiting staff for the team, while ensuring that they are not government officials but a group of people tasked by the government to do the job. The deputy prime minister stressed that the head of the government's peace negotiation team to restore peace in the Thai Deep South, General Aksara Kerdpol, is in charge of proceeding with the peace talks with representatives of different ideological groups. (TNA)