Thai Foreign Minister urges Cambodia to review decision on Thaksin appointment

BANGKOK, Nov 6 (TNA) - Thailand's Minister of Foreign Affairs Kasit Piromya urged the Cambodian government late Thursday to review its decision to appoint convicted former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra as personal advisor to Cambodian Premier Hun Sen and advisor on economy to his government. Mr Kasit said Phnom Penh must choose between personal interest and relations and the national interests and relations of the two countries. He also confirmed the news report that Cambodia had recalled its ambassador to Thailand. The Agence France-Presse (AFP) news agency quoted Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An as saying that "To reciprocate the recall of Thailand's ambassador-designate, the Royal Government of Cambodia decided to recall its ambassador for the time being but regards this only as a temporary measure." He also told a news conference in Phnom Penh that the Cambodian envoy would be sent back to Bangkok only after Thailand has returned its ambassador-designate to Cambodia. Thailand recalled its envoy from Phnom Penh in protest against the Mr Thaksin’s appointment. It is also reviewing all existing bilateral agreements and cooperation projects with Cambodia, including the ongoing cooperation which the Royal Thai Government has extended to Cambodia. Meanwhile, Thai envoy to Cambodia Prasas Prasasvinitchai arrived in Bangkok at 9.55pm Thursday without giving any comment to the media. He reportedly requested the airport authority to provide a vehicle to pick him up at the aircraft. In related developments, Thailand has stepped up security measures at the Cambodian Embassy in Bangkok. More personnel are assigned to provide security at the embassy, including 230 police from various stations under the Metropolitan Police Bureau and anti-riot units for rotated posting to the embassy. (TNA)