Thursday, October 28, 2010

UN Secretary General urges Cambodia, Thailand to settle border dispute peacefully

28 Oct, 2010

UN Secretary General Ban Ki- moon on Thursday called on Cambodia and Thailand to settle their border dispute through peaceful means.

Ban made the remarks at a briefing to reporters before concluding his visit here.

He said that during his Asian nation tour, he had met with Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen respectively and discussed the relations between the two countries with the two leaders. "I hope the leaders of the two countries to resolve their border dispute through peaceful dialogue," Ban said.

Moreover, Ban said during his stay in Hanoi, Vietnam, he will again urge the two countries to seek peaceful settlement of the border dispute as early as possible.

"The two countries should maintain good traditional relationship, and should live together with a friendly way, because they are joined by common mountains and rivers," Ban added.

Cambodia and Thailand have had border conflict just one week after Cambodia's Preah Vihear Temple was registered as World Heritage Site in July 2008.

Since the conflict started, military standoff has been on and off along the two countries' border and several military clashes have happened.

The border issue, however, has been eased as the top leaders of Cambodia and Thailand have held two meetings in recent weeks.

The first meeting was held in New York on the sidelines of the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)-U.S. Summit and the second was held in Brussels in Belgium, also on the sidelines of ASEM (the Asia-Europe Meeting) Summit.

Ban Ki-moon, paid a three-day official visit at the invitation of Prime Minister Hun Sen, left here on Thursday afternoon for Hanoi where he will attend the ASEAN-UN Summit.

Source:Xinhua

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