ASEAN claims progress in solving conflict between Thailand, Cambodia

5 May, 2011
Source: Xinhua

The Association of Southeast Asia Nations on Wednesday claimed progress in solving border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia.

Secretary General of ASEAN Surin Pitsuwan told a press conference that with help of global and regional powers, there would be a common effort to address the conflict.

"We have to be generous looking at the institution (ASEAN) in making efforts, trying to help solve problem between Thailand and Cambodia. As I said, it is the first in many ways," he said. "Therefore, I think the fact that foreign ministers agree to come (to the 18th ASEAN Summit) and listen to issues of the two countries in conflict is already the first. It's already the step forward into the future," said Pitsuwan.

He said that the association could make a contribution with help of global and regional institutions. "We would hope that we could make a contribution into some other pipe of conflict through development, through job creation, through cooperation with contribution the World Bank, the United Nations Development Program, and the Asian Development Bank," said Pitsuwan.

He hopes that all these elements are going to converge into a common effort to address problems of conflict and insecurity. "That's what ASEAN has been doing. That's the story of ASEAN. We have to do more. There always rooms for improvement. But you have to look at spectrum from the very beginning up to now. What we have done is quite well and it has been recognized," he said.