Bangkok Post (4/5/99)

[mandalay@xxxxxxxxxx]

<center><bold>Thananit to pay visit to Burma 

</bold></center>

<bold>Wassana Nanuam

</bold>

ACM Thananit Niamthan is going to Burma this week to renew ties between
the air forces of the two countries after two decades of no contact.


He will be the first Thai air force chief to visit his Burmese
counterpart in 20 years.


An air force source said ACM Thananit would leave on Thursday and spend
three days in Burma. He is to be accompanied by AM Thares Poonsri,
assistant chief-of-staff.


ACM Thananit, who has been invited to visit Burma by his counterpart AM
Kyaw Than, will meet Burma's Prime Minister Gen Than Shwe and army chief
Gen Maung Aye.


The source said ACM Thananit wanted to renew ties between the two air
forces, adding an acquaintance with Burmese leaders would help efforts to
tackle problems between the two countries.


AM Kyaw Than is known to be personally close to AM Thares because they
went to the same military school in England.

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