Thai PM arrives in Saudi Arabia, easing diamond heist row

Thailand's prime minister has landed in Riyadh to soothe relations that soured three decades ago after a sensational jewelry heist

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- Thailand's prime minister arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday for the first high-level meeting since relations between the nations soured three decades ago over a sensational jewelry heist that led to a diplomatic row and string of mysterious killings.

The official visit by Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha to Riyadh signals the nations are seeking to thaw relations, long chilled by the 1989 scandal. Saudi Arabia downgraded its diplomatic ties with Thailand over the theft that became known as the Blue Diamond affair.

While Prayuth's visit marked a major breakthrough, his discreet arrival hinted at lingering tension.

A notably low-ranking official, the deputy governor of Riyadh, received the prime minister at the airport. There was no live TV showing his arrival and Saudi state-run media published just a few photos of his initial palace meeting with deputy governor Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz.