Burma-Malaysia (L only)

[moe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

DATE=3/9/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-227804
TITLE=BURMA-MALAYSIA (L ONLY) 
BYLINE=DAVID BUTLER
DATELINE=BANGKOK 
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO: MALAYSIAN PRIME MINISTER MAHATHIR MOHAMAD ARRIVED IN BURMA
TODAY (MONDAY) FOR A TWO-DAY OFFICIAL VISIT.  AS DAVID BUTLER 
REPORTS FROM OUR SOUTHEAST ASIA BUREAU IN BANGKOK, THE TWO SIDES 
ARE EXPECTED TO SIGN TWO BILATERAL AGREEMENTS AND DISCUSS 
REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS.

TEXT: PRIME MINISTER MAHATHIR WAS MET AT RANGOON'S INTERNATIONAL 
AIRPORT BY HIS BURMESE COUNTERPART GENERAL THAN SHWE, WHO IS ALSO
CHAIRMAN OF BURMA'S RULING MILITARY COUNCIL.

OTHER RANKING GENERALS IN THE COUNCIL WERE ALSO ON HAND TO GREET 
DR. MAHATHIR AND A 46-MEMBER DELEGATION THAT INCLUDES FOREIGN 
MINISTER ABDULLAH BADAWI.  THE DELEGATION WAS GIVEN A 19-GUN 
SALUTE AND GREETED BY HUNDREDS OF FLAG-WAVING SCHOOL CHILDREN.

DURING THE VISIT, THE TWO SIDES ARE SCHEDULED TO SIGN A VISA 
EXEMPTION AGREEMENT AND AN AGREEMENT TO AVOID DOUBLE TAXATION.  
MALYASIAN OFFICIALS SAY PRIME MINISTER MAHATHIR'S VISIT IS 
INTENDED TO STRENGTHEN SOLIDARITY IN THE ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST
ASIAN NATIONS -- ASEAN -- WHICH BURMA JOINED LAST JULY.

IN THE DISCUSSIONS LEADING TO BURMA'S ADMISSION TO THE REGIONAL 
GROUP,  DR. MAHATHIR WAS AMONG THE STRONGEST VOICES IN FAVOR OF 
INCLUDING BURMA, DESPITE OBJECTIONS FROM WESTERN COUNTRIES SUCH 
AS THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER, WHAT ARE TERMED, ASEAN DIALOGUE 
PARTNERS.  THESE NATIONS OBJECTED TO BURMA'S INCLUSION BECAUSE OF
THE RULING MILITARY COUNCIL'S  HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD.

ASEAN GROUPS BURMA WITH BRUNEI, INDONESIA, LAOS, MALAYSIA, THE 
PHILIPPINES, SINGAPORE, THAILAND AND VIETNAM.  MALAYSIAN FOREIGN 
MINISTER BADAWI -- WHO WAS SERVING AS ASEAN  PRESIDENT WHEN BURMA
WAS ADMITTED -- URGED THE RULING MILITARY COUNCIL TO OPEN A 
DIALOGUE WITH PRO-DEMOCRACY LEADER AUNG SAN SUU KYI.

THE GENERALS IGNORED MR. BADAWI'S ADVICE.

OFFICIALS IN THE MALAYSIAN DELEGATION SAY INVESTMENT, TRADE AND 
THE REGION'S CURRENT ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY WILL ALSO BE ON THE 
AGENDA FOR THE TALKS.

MALAYSIA IS AMONG THE LARGEST INVESTORS IN BURMA, WITH STAKES IN 
25 PROJECTS TOTALING 587 MILLION DOLLARS.  TWO-WAY TRADE LAST 
YEAR AMOUNTED TO 275 MILLION DOLLARS, WITH MALAYSIA ENJOYING A 
SURPLUS.  (SIGNED)

NEB/DB/FC

09-Mar-98 5:21 AM EST (1021 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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