Secretary-General Visits Thailand

Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim arrived in Bangkok on 13 May for a two-day official visit to Thailand. The Secretary-General was greeted at the airport by Prime Minister Kriangsak Chomanan and his wife Khunying Virat Chomanan. Also at the airport were the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Upadit Pachariyangkun, other cabinet ministers, representatives of Thailand Armed Forces and members of the Diplomatic corps. The Secretary-General was given military honours and received a 19-gun salute. A few hours after landing in Bangkok, the Secretary-General flew to eastern Thailand by helicopter to visit refugee camps a few miles from the border between Thailand and Kampuchea. In the evening the Secretary-General was guest of honour at a dinner given by the Prime Minister. On the second day of his visit he held talks with the Prime Minister. On the second day of his visit he held talks with the Prime Minister. Following the talks, the Secretary-General flew by helicopter to Klai Kangwol palace where he was received by King Bhumibol Abdulyadej and Queen Sirikit of Thailand who gave a lunch in his honour. Before leaving Thailand the Secretary-General met with staff members of the ESCAP Secretariat and representatives of the specialized agencies in Bangkok.
Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim visiting the refugee camp at Aranyaprathet which houses 7,380 refugees from Kampuchea. The camp is administered by the Thai authorities in co-operation with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and a large number of voluntary agencies. The Secretary-General toured the camp's hospital and met with a number of refugees.