Laos welcomed a program to resettle ethic Hmong residing in Thailand' central Saraburi province to the United States, saying the move is expected to improve ties between Bangkok and Vientiane that has been shadowed by the group's violent attacks in Laos, local press reported here on Thursday.

The departure of Hmong people would relieve Lao's concern abouttheir alleged involvement in anti-government activities in Laos, said Lao Defense Minister Maj-Gen Douangchai Phichit in Bangkok after a two-day meeting of bilateral General Border Committee.

Some 200 of the 15,000 Hmong people sheltered at Wat Tham Krabok in Saraburi are believed to have launched violent attacks in Laos, said Thai security authorities.

"The US permission for the entry of Hmong from Tham Krobok willrelieve the problem. If all the Hmong people leave Tham Krabok, Thailand and Laos will be on better terms and Laos will be more confident and peaceful," Phichit was quoted by the local newspaperBangkok Post as saying.

The resettlement program, which covers all Hmong refugees residing at the temple, is expected to be completed by the end of the year, according to a Thai official.

Vientiane has repeatedly accused Thailand of allowing Hmong insurgents based at the temple to launch violent activities.

Thai Defense Minister Gen Chettha Thanajaro reaffirmed that Thailand did not allow any group to launch insurgency activities against neighboring countries from its territory, adding 12,000 Hmong based at Wat Tham Krabok would leave for the United States within a month.

During the meeting, Thailand and Laos agreed to set up 13 jointcommittees to monitor activities aimed against the Lao government and to introduce border patrols on land and along the Mekong river.

The two countries Wednesday also agreed on the deployment of forces in the border provinces of Chiang Rai, Phayao, Nan, Uttaradit and Phitsanulok and in Laos' B Kayo and Chaiyaburi provinces.

Source: Xinhua