VP MEDIATES TALKS BETWEEN TWO SIDES IN SOUTHERN THAILAND CONFLICT

Jakarta, Sept 20 (ANTARA) - Vice President Jusuf Kalla acted as a mediator in a dialog between the two sides in the Southern Thailand conflict at the Bogor Palace, West Java, on Saturday.
Delegates of the Thai government arrived at the Palace 10.30 am after they were previously received by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta.
Vice President Jusuf Kalla welcomed the delegates of the Thai government and of the Southern Thai people at the Bogor Palace.
Kalla greeted the Thai government delegates in the palace's living room and led them to the Bung Karno working room. He also greeted the Southern Thai people's delegates who arrived 10 minutes later, and asked them to take seats in the left side of the palace.
The vice president held separate talks in closes-door meetings with both sides.
The Thai government and people of Southern Thailand had appointed Kalla as a mediator to discuss their internal conflict.
The negotiations which had entered the fourth round were closed at 4 pm and would be continued on Sunday.
Delegates of the southern Thai people left the palace at 4.25 pm and those of the Thai government 10 minutes later.
No information was obtained on the substance and results of the negotiations.
The Bogor meeting was the fourth of its kind after the previous ones held in Kedah, Penang and Langkawi in Malaysia.