THAI QUEEN SIRIKIT MET THE WIFE OF GERMAN PRESIDENT HORST KOEHLER ON THE FIRST FULL DAY OF HER VISIT TO GERMANY ON TUESDAY, A SPOKESWOMAN FOR THE PRESIDENT'S OFFICE SAID, ACCORDING TO DPA. EVA LUISE KOEHLER HOSTED A HIGH TEA FOR THE MONARCH AT BELLEVUE PALACE, THE GERMAN HEAD OF STATE'S OFFICIAL RESIDENCE IN BERLIN. THE TWO WOMEN ARE ACTIVE IN CHARITY WORK. FRAU KOEHLER IS PATRON OF THE GERMAN UNICEF COMMITTEE AND A SOCIETY THAT LOOKS AFTER PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM RARE DISEASES. QUEEN SIRIKIT LAUNCHED AN INITIATIVE CREATING THE FOUNDATION FOR THE SUPPLEMENTARY OCCUPATION AND RELATED TECHNIQUES AS PART OF AN ATTEMPT TO ALLEVIATE THE POVERTY OF HER PEOPLE. THE 74-YEAR-OLD MONARCH ARRIVED IN GERMANY FROM AUSTRIA ON MONDAY FOR A SERIES OF PRIVATE AND OFFICIAL ENGAGEMENTS. SHE WAS DUE TO TRAVEL TO THE SOUTHERN STATE OF BAVARIA ON WEDNESDAY WHERE SHE IS GUEST AT A DINNER GIVEN IN HER HONOUR BY THE STATE PREMIER, EDMUND STOIBER. TALKS WERE ALSO PLANNED WITH THE BAVARIAN MINISTER OF SCIENCE, THOMAS GOPPEL, AS WELL AS VISITS TO EXHIBITIONS AND CULTURAL ATTRACTIONS, INCLUDING THE NYMPHENBURG PALACE IN MUNICH. ON FRIDAY, SHE WAS DUE TO RECEIVE MEMBERS OF THE THAI COMMUNITY BEFORE FLYING HOME TO BANGKOK ON SATURDAY EVENING.
