Thai new prime minister to visit Indonesia

The newly appointed Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont will pay one-day courtesy visit to Indonesia Saturday, Indonesian Presidential spokesman Dino Pati Djalal announced here Friday.

During his visit, Chulanont is going to have face-to-face talks with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the State Palace.

"On Oct. 21, the president is to accept a courtesy visit of Chulannt", said Dino, "the visit is in an effort of self introduction of the Thai new Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont."

When asked whether Indonesia agreed with the change of a government through a coup, the spokesman said, "We give an acknowledgement only to state, so we do not have to be in the position whether to acknowledge each of the government."

Dino said that the president has sent a letter, congratulating the prime minister for his appointment on Oct. 11 and expecting the restoration of democracy to be immediately carried out in the country by establishing a general election.

The government of Thailand has announced that the general election to be held in October 2007, according to the spokesman.

Chulanont was appointed to be Thai prime minister after the stepping down of the former prime minister Thaksin Sinawatra during a military coup.

Source: Xinhua