Thailand ready to assist Indonesia on haze solution

BANGKOK, October 8 (TNA) - The Thai government is prepared to assist Indonesia to solve the smog problem, caused by local forest fires, mostly from the Indonesian Sumatra Island, and affecting the Thai South and other adjacent neighbouring countries. Thai Deputy Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs Vitavas Srivihok told journalists of the stance on Thursday, after holding a meeting with Indonesian Ambassador to Thailand Lutfi Rauf at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok, saying that his ministry is awaiting more details from Jakarta on what assistance it needs from the Thai government. Vitavas revealed that during the meeting, the Indonesian top envoy also stressed that the Jakarta government fully understands the haze problem in Indonesia has affected the livelihood of people in the southern Thai region and other neighbouring countries. The Indonesian ambassador acknowledged that Jakarta needs help from other fellow member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) because the haze problem is critical and what Indonesia has done to contain the crux appear to be insufficient. (TNA)