Swedish, Canadian ambassadors praise Thailand for fast response

DEDAYE, MYANMAR : A woman carries water in front of a destroyed house in the cyclone-hit area of Dedaye township, some 48 kilometers south of Yangon on May 7, 2008. A UN spokesman said about 5,000 square kilometres (1,930 square miles) of Myanmars cyclone-hit regions remain underwater, with more than a million people in need of emergency relief. Without immediate assistance, the death toll -- officially at nearly 22,000 with about 42,000 missing -- would climb from the May 2-3 cyclone. AFP PHOTO / KHIN MAUNG WIN

May 8, 2008
Bangkok - Swedish and Canadian Ambassadors to Thailand admired Thai government for its fast response to the cyclone-hit Myanmar.

Interior Ministry’s spokesman ML Panadda Disakul revealed Swedish Ambassador to Thailand Mr. Lennart Linner and Canadian Ambassador to Thailand Mr. David Sproule today met Interior Minister Pol Capt Chalerm Yoobamrung.

They asked Interior Minister Chalerm to coordinate with Myanmar to offer help to it without interfering Myanmar’s internal affairs.

Canadian government already gave two million US dollars of subsidy to Myanmar and would like to send its medical volunteers to help the victims. But Burmese government rejected its help.

Chalerm promised he would further discuss the issue with Foreign Affairs Minister Noppadon Pattama.

Both ambassadors also expressed their concerns over the southern unrest, saying it would take time to solve the problem.

They are confident Thai politics remains stable.

Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar on Friday, and several countries have offered help to it so far.

Thailand on Tuesday gave 100,000 US dollars as well as dried food, medical supplies and other necessary stuff to Myanmar.