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International News Title: Former president George Bush arrives on three-day official visit (Thailand) Former US president George H.W. Bush and his wife Barbara arrived yesterday on a three-day official visit to deliver the US message of goodwill for the 60th anniversary of His Majesty the King's accession to the throne. Mr Bush, who acts as a special envoy of his son and US leader George W. Bush, was welcomed by Minister to the Prime Minister's Office Thirapat Serirangsan at the military airport in Don Muang. Their Majesties the King and Queen will grant an audience today to Mr Bush and his wife at the Chakri Maha Prasart Throne Hall in the Grand Palace. Mr Bush had sought an audience with the King to extend good wishes on behalf of the US president and US citizens on the occasion of the auspicious 60th anniversary celebration of His Majesty's accession to the throne. As guests of honour of the government, the former president and his wife will be accompanied by Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont to the palace. Their Majesties will then host dinner. Their official visit is a reflection of long, cordial ties and goodwill between the two countries. "It is good for Thailand's image as Mr Bush is still a respected person, and will see how Thailand is after the coup," said Somjai Phagaphasvivat, an international relations professor at Thammasat University. "The visit also shows other countries that Thailand is acceptable, even though they are under some conditions," he said, referring to US demands to lift martial law and restore democracy in the kingdom. Thailand is historically one of the US' closest allies in the region, and the kingdom has also played an important role in the US "war on terror" launched after the Sept 11, 2001 attacks. Hambali, leader of the al-Qaeda-affiliated Southeast Asian group Jemaah Islamiyah, was captured in Ayutthaya province in August 2003. However, the US has been an outspoken critic of the Sept 19 coup which ousted twice-elected premier Thaksin Shinawatra, and has urged the new government to speed up the return to democracy. It suspended $24 million (864 million baht) in military aid, imposed automatically under a US law which forbids assistance to the government of a country where an elected leader has been deposed in a coup, but has not taken any further steps against the new government. Mr Bush is the third former US president to visit the kingdom this year, following the visits of Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter.BANGKOK POST and AFP
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