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THE NATION: Chuan to have talks wi



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      Chuan to have talks with
      Soros

      Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai is
      scheduled to meet and exchange views
      with international financier George Soros in
      New York on Wednesday, a Foreign
      Ministry spokesman said yesterday. 

      Spokesman Kobsak Chutikul said that
      Soros, as the chairman of Council on
      Foreign Relations, was co-hosting a
      reception with Asia Society for Chuan. The
      function will be attended by 200 leading
      American business people. 

      Chuan is to give a speech on the current
      economic situation and the progress that
      has been made since the Demcorat-led
      government took control last November. 

      Meanwhile, an informed source said that
      after the reception, Chuan will meet Soros
      to exchange views on the Asian economic
      crisis as well as talk about opportunities to
      invest in Thailand. The source added that
      Soros had expressed an appreciation of
      the Chuan government and admired his
      decency and democratic principles. ''He
      would like to show his support of
      democratic Thailand,'' said the source, who
      asked not to be identified. 

      Soros, criticised by Asean leaders at the
      start of the financial turmoil, had gone to
      Seoul after the South Korean government
      had asked for an US$57-billion IMF bailout
      package and shored up international
      support for President Kim Dae-Jung by
      committing himself and his financial groups
      to invest in the country. 

      Kobsak said that during Chuan's visit to the
      US, he will discuss various issues affecting
      Thai-US bilateral relations, especially the
      fate of eight F/A-18 jet fighters and the fate
      of Thai students in the US. He also plans to
      discuss cooperation programmes that
      could help Thais cope with the crisis. 

      Thailand hopes to reach a solution with the
      United States on the purchase of jet fighters
      when Chuan meets US President Bill
      Clinton in Washington next week, the
      spokesman said. 

      He added that both leaders would have a
      chance to discuss and decide what to do
      next with the deal. Thailand had sought to
      cancel the delivery of eight F/A-18 jet
      fighters due to the current crisis but no
      conclusion was reached after January's
      round of negotiations between the Thai and
      US armed forces in Bangkok. 

      Chuan, in his capacity as defence minister,
      had reiterated that the deal should be
      forgone because Thailand simply could not
      afford it. 

      ''The issue is expected to be settled in a
      way acceptable by both sides in the
      meeting between Chuan and Clinton,'' the
      spokesman said at a press briefing. 

      Kobsak has just returned with an advanced
      team from the US to prepare for Chuan's
      trip to Washington, New York and Los
      Angeles. Chuan will leave for his week long
      trip on Tuesday night. 

      The 13,481 Thai students that study in
      different universities throughout the US, are
      finding it difficult to continue their education
      due to the currency crisis back home. 

      ''We will propose that the US allows our
      Thai students who have difficulties in paying
      for their courses to work part-time so that
      they can alleviate the burden their parents
      have at home,'' Kobsak told reporters.
      Students in the US are not allowed to work
      without a special permission. 

      He added that Chuan will urge the US
      private sector, which has invested in
      Thailand, to set up a special fund to help
      Thai students to pay their way through
      colleges. Thailand has been concerned
      with the future human resource
      development due to the economic crisis
      that has so far forced some students to
      return home. 

      The effort is part of the Thai government's
      social safety net to minimise social impacts
      incurred from domestic and regional
      economic crisis. 

      Bangkok will also encourage Thai-US
      business communities to set up an
      education fund which will provide aid for the
      students facing economic difficulties at
      home, said the spokesman. 

      The Thai team will also urge the US private
      sectors to provide scholarships under
      ''American Cooperation for Thailand'' for
      Thai students at home in fields of
      engineering and science. 

      BY KAVI CHONGKITTAVORN and RITA
      PATIYASEVI 

      The Nation