Thai, KL sign cooperation pact

Thai, KL sign cooperation pact

BANGKOK (AFP): Thailand and Malaysia signed on Thursday a new
cooperation agreement which replaces a 20-year-old pact and
addresses sticky issues including the border fence and new
checkpoints.

The "in principle" agreement was signed here at the annual
meeting of the general border committee by Thai Prime Minister
and Defense Minister Chuan Leekpai and Malaysia's Defense
Minister Najib Tun Razak.

Thailand's Maj. Gen. Chanya Worakhamin, who is commander of
the joint operations office, said the biggest common problem
facing the two countries was no longer communist insurgents but
illegal trade.

He said a significant part of the agreement related to solving
the issue of the no man's land between the sections of the border
where both nations had erected fences.