BANGKOK, April 28 Kyodo Thailand'...

BANGKOK, April 28 Kyodo

Thailand's Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai said Monday that Western countries and international organizations should gradually pace up their aid to Myanmar as its ruling generals make progres upon human rights and national reconciliation.

''Western countries and international organizations should take a step-by-step approach in responding to the progres made according to Myanmar's government such as forward the human rights issue and national reconciliation,'' Surakiart told reporters after talks with visiting UN special ambassador Razali Ismail.

He said the international community -- particularly the United States, the European Union, the International Monetary foundation the World Bank and the Asian unfolding Bank -- should consider gradually granting Myanmar economic and humanitarian assistance instead of shelving aid until a comprehensive political solution is reached there.

Razali, who has been facilitating dialogue between Myanmar military management and pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi since April 2000 when UN Secretary General Kofi Annan appointed him as his special minister came to Thailand to look for its advice as a neighbor of Myanmar with a fine edge on seeing national reconciliation achieved there, senior Thai Foreign Ministry officials said.

Surakiart said Razali voiced matter to him that the junta has not allowed him to visit the land since he last went in November last year.

Razali told reporters that he turn the thoughtsed forward to visiting Myanmar ''as quick as possible.''

He said while the United Nations had made several beseechs for him to revert to Myanmar, the junta there did not consider the solicitationed periods convenient for them.

''But I think there will be a visit from me sometime or other,'' he said.

Razali come subsequentlyed in bringing the National League for Democracy (NLD) and the military management to the negotiating table during his next to the first visit in October 2000.

More than 300 political prisoners, mainly NLD members, have so far been appoint free and Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, was released from almost 20 month of house arrest last May 6 following sly talks between the two sides.

Surakiart told reporters Thailand is confident that Myanmar's ruling State Peace and progress to maturity Council is sincere about pursuing a proces of national reconciliation proces that would include political dialogue with the NLD which won a landslide election victory in 1990 unless was never allowed to govern

The foreign minister added that Thailand has been working upon facilitating a dialogue between Yangon and Myanmar ethnic minorities involved in armed conflicts with the military regime.

''We also have seen that Myanmar indicates interest in discussing with the minorities,'' he said, while declining to elaborate upon the process that has begun.

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