PM denies she'll meet US execs in Cambodia

11 July, 2012

Bangkok Post

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has denied she will meet US businessmen in Cambodia this Friday to discuss an oil and gas interest in a disputed maritime area in the Gulf of Thailand.

She told reporters at Government House Monday that she had accepted an invitation from US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to deliver a speech to US investors at the US-Asean Business Forum in Cambodia.
At the forum, she will tell US business figures about the potential of Thailand and of the Asean Economic Community that will be established in 2015.

She said there are no plans to discuss the disputed maritime area or its resources.

Opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva says the US and several other countries are interested in energy resources in the disputed marine area.

Mr Abhisit said ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Ms Yingluck's older brother, has clearly stated his interest in investing in energy businesses in this area.

"The prime minister must inspire confidence among the people by doing everything with transparency," he said.

Mr Yingluck brushed aside the claims. saying there was no hidden agenda or conflict of interest in her trip.
She said she would meet Cambodian authorities to discuss bilateral cooperation and development including issues relating to the Preah Vihear temple.

Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said Mrs Clinton had sent her written invitation to Ms Yingluck on June 28 and asked her to deliver a speech in Siem Reap to US investors.

The minister said Mrs Clinton's invitation made no mention of any talks related to the maritime area.
Mr Surapong said Ms Yingluck will meet Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen to discuss the construction of a road from Cambodia's Poipet province to a new border crossing into Thailand.

The premier will not raise the terminated memorandum of understanding on Thai and Cambodian waters in the Gulf of Thailand because the Thai government is waiting for legal experts to study if the MoU should be revived.

Transport Minister Jarupong Ruangsuwan said yesterday Ms Yingluck would discuss Cambodia's request for Thailand to build a road and railway line from Poipet to the border adjacent to Sa Kaeo province.

The minister said Thailand would invest in the routes because it would benefit from increasing cross-border trade. The new crossing would link Thailand's Ban Nong Ian village in Sa Kaeo with Stung Bot village in Cambodia's Banteay Meanchey province.