PM: Thailand welcomes ASEAN to help facilitate bilateral talks between Thailand and Cambodia

12 Feb, 2011
(MCOT online news)

NAKHON PATHOM, Feb 12 -- Thailand welcomes any assistance to be given by members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in facilitating a border dispute settlement with Cambodia bilaterally, said Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Saturday.

Reacting to press reports quoting senior ASEAN officials as confirming that Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, also ASEAN chairman, has proposed a meeting between Thai and Cambodian foreign ministers in Jakarta to find a solution to the border disputes which had caused renewed clashes between soldiers of the two countries late last week, Mr Abhisit said Thailand has no problem if Indonesia or other ASEAN members wanted to play a role in facilitating the meeting between Thailand and Cambodia.

The reports said the meeting was proposed to be held on February 22.

Cambodia, Indonesia and Thailand along with Brunei, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam are ASEAN members.

Mr Abhisit, however, stressed that all eyes are now focusing on the United Nations Security Council meeting due to be held in New York on Monday in which Thai Foreign Affairs Minister Kasit Piromya would participate and the border problem should become more clear.

Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong and Mr Natalegawa are also expected to attend a closed door meeting.

Mr Abhisit said he expected Asda Jayanama, chief of the Thai-Cambodian Joint commission on Demarcation for Land Boundary (JBC), would brief Mr Kasit on the outcome of his meeting with UNESCO director in Paris while the minister is on his way to New York.

The prime minister said he hoped that UNESCO would obtain a clearer picture and also help ease tension.

The International Court of Justice in 1962 ruled that the 11th century Preah Vihear temple belongs to Phnom Penh. UNESCO named it a World Heritage site in 2008 after Cambodia had applied for the status. The country submitted a management plan for the temple to UNESCO’s World Heritage Commission in 2010, which deferred a decision until this year.

On reports which need to be confirmed regarding clashes at the Cambodian border district of Poi Pet, opposite Aranyaprathet, Mr Abhisit said he was only informed of heavy reinforcements in the area and would prefer the military and concerned units either confirm or deny it, as the Thai government’s policy is clear that the country would not invade others and that what it had done was to protect its sovereignty.