Democrat MP Suthep Thaugsuban said on Wednesday his meetings with Cambodia's Deputy Prime Minister Sok An in Hong Kong and Kunming during the Abhisit government were unofficial, not secret as described by Cambodia.
He admitted he met Sok An as a representative of the Thai government to discuss joint maritime cooperation. "The meetings were not for personal interest," he reiterated.
The Cambodian petroleum authority has issued a statement alleging the Abhisit government tried to make a secret deal, which Phnom Penh disagreed with, on the maritime area.
Abhisit sent his deputy Suthep Thaugsuban for talks with Cambodian leaders many times, including two behind-the-scene meetings with Deputy Prime Minister Sok An in Hong Kong and Kunming in August 2009 and July 2010 respectively.
"While asking for transparency from previous governments which had dealings with Phnom Penh openly, "why under the Abhisit government was there a need for secret meetings", the statement said.
Suthep said no deals were agreed upon during those meetings.
In the meetings, Sok An proposed that both countries settle the overlapping maritime zones in the form of a joint panel. The disputed zones would be divided like a chessboard and both countries conducted a draw to know which country would be in charge of which site.
Suthep said he informed Sok An that he would let the government and the Parliament decide on any proposal.
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