Sultan In Bangkok Sars Summit As Leaders Screened

Bandar Seri Begawan - His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah left Brunei last night for the special Asean Leaders Meeting on Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) to be held in Bangkok.

Bangkok authorities said that all delegates to the Asean Sars summit in Bangkok on Tuesday will be liable to health screening on arrival at Don Muang airport.

Public Health Minister Sudarat Keyuraphan said the screening process would prevent the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) in Thailand during the meeting of leaders and their delegations from Asean countries.

The Bangkok summit is designed to map out a strategy to fight the virus.

Ms Sudarat said the ministry had asked Asean leaders to show medical certificates on arrival at Don Muang airport. Those with certificates would not be required to undergo screening or wear facemasks.

The Foreign Ministry has set aside a room where leaders who have no certificates will undergo medical checks.

Health authorities would issue certificates to members of delegations who pass check-ups at the airport, Ms Sudarat said.

Public health ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations met in Malaysia at the weekend to discuss measures to control the deadly virus and exchange information on the treatment of Sars patients.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said the Bangkok summit would show other countries that Asean was serious in dealing with the epidemic. He was sure the economy would recover from the effects of the scare. "Thailand is the only country that has declared itself free of Sars. At the meeting of public health ministers in Malaysia, Asean countries agreed to map out measures to control the disease,'' Mr Thaksin said.

His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah and His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah sent off his Majesty at the Brunei International Airport in Berakas.

Accompanying His Majesty is His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, Foreign Affairs Minister.

His Majesty will join Asean leaders to map out strategy in fighting SARS, which threatens many parts of the world, including Asia, a Radio Television Brunei report said. -- Courtesy of Radio Television Brunei

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