The recent political manoeuvrings will definitely take a toll on
international aid for Burma at the regional economic scheme to be held in Krabi next week, a Foreign Ministry source said.

The Burmese government should realise all international assistance could be affected except that involving human resource development, the source said.

Aid to Burma and other new members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) will be top of the agenda in the two-day talks beginning on Monday on the Ayeyawady (Irrawaddy)-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy. Foreign ministers from Thailand, Burma, Laos,
Cambodia and Vietnam will meet with representatives from potential donors including Australia, France, Japan, New Zealand and the Asian Development Bank at the meeting.

Due to the political change in Burma last week which saw Khin Nyunt removed as prime minister, Rangoon will send Deputy Foreign Minister Kyaw Thu to the meeting, the source said.

“Burma has to wait until the situation in the country improves” so that other assistance will be channelled to the country, the source added.

Burma’s state media announced a change of prime minister on Oct 19 from Gen Khin Nyunt to Lt-Gen Soe Win.

Formerly known as the Economic Cooperation Strategy, the Thai-initiated sub-regional cooperation was launched in April last year to bring in more Asean nations.

Its focus is on trade and investment facilitation, agricultural and industrial cooperation, transport links, tourism cooperation and human resource development.