Cambodia rejects Thai's reaction on Hun Sen's visit to border area

6/02/2010
Source:Xinhua

Cambodian government on Friday firmly rejected the reaction by Thailand on Prime Minister Hun Sen 's scheduled visit to Cambodian-Thai border area on Saturday.

In a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia, the ministry's spokesperson said, "It would be pointless and nonsense, even if Thailand did oppose to such a visit."

Hun Sen plans to visit the western border region, on Saturday.

The statement of deputy spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, posted on the Bangkok Post online Friday, said, "Thailand has not opposed to the visit by Prime Minister Hun Sen to the border area and the Foreign Ministry will send a high- level official to welcome him."

Moreover, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva of Thailand has been reported to have told reporters, after chairing a meeting of the National Security Council of Thailand, that "If Mr. Hun Sen wishes to travel to the 4.6 sq km border area... talks must be held prior to the visit."

"It is very surprising and beyond comprehension that Thailand would consider sending a high-level official to welcome Samdech Techo Hun Sen who is on a tour in the territory of Cambodia, " the spokesperson said.

"Thailand's continued use of its unilateral map has been a major cause of border tension," he pointed out.

"Cambodia does not need to hold talk with Thailand prior to the visit of Samdech Techo Hun Sen to the area of 4.6 sq km adjacent to the Temple of Preah Vihear," he stressed, adding that "This area is located well within the territory of Cambodia according to the "Annex I" map used by the International Court of Justice ( ICJ) for its judgment in 1962."

It will be Hun Sen's first visit to the Cambodia-Thailand border area since the border dispute occurred after Preah Vihear temple was listed as Cambodia's World Heritage Site by the UNESCO' s World Heritage Committee in July 2008.