ID :
13544
Wed, 07/23/2008 - 12:34
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http://m.oananews.org//node/13544
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Allow Thais, Cambodians to solve border dispute, says Thai delegate
SINGAPORE, July 23 (TNA) - The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) should allow Thailand and Cambodia to talk with each other to resolve the dispute over Preah Vihear temple to the utmost of their ability before seeking outsiders to have a role to intervene in theterritorial conflict between both countries, according to a Thai Foreign Ministry official attending the ASEAN meeting.
The Thai side's stance was made after Phnom Penh had sought regional intervention in its territorial dispute after talks between Thai Supreme Commander Gen. Boonsang Niempradit and Cambodia's Defence Minister Tea Banh failed to end a military standoff around the ancient Preah Viheartemple.
Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong asked Singapore, the chair of ASEAN, to form a regional "inter-ministerial group" comprising foreign ministers of Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam and Laos to help find a peaceful solution to the current crisis and avoid a military standoff bythe two ASEAN members.
"Thai troops with artillery and tanks are building up along the border, constituting a very serious threat not only to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Cambodia, but also to peace and stability in the region,'' he said in the letter to Singapore's Foreign Minister George Yeolate Monday.
Thani Thongpakdi, deputy spokesman of Thailand's Foreign Ministry, who accompanied the Thai delegation to the ministerial meeting, said all members of the delegation met on late Monday night to discuss theCambodian foreign minister's move.
They viewed both countries should be allowed to continue holding their bilateral talks to tackle the territorial dispute as stated earlier by theASEAN chairman.
He said the Thai delegation would meet the Singapore foreign minister, who is acting as ASEAN chairman, and discuss with the Thai government beforemaking a decision on what it should do next on the matter.
Deputy Prime Minister Sahas Banditkul, who heads the Thai delegation, said he welcomed ASEAN's readiness to play an active role in helping solve theterritorial dispute.
However, he insisted both countries should be given more time to address the conflict in a friendly and cooperative manner first. (TNA)
The Thai side's stance was made after Phnom Penh had sought regional intervention in its territorial dispute after talks between Thai Supreme Commander Gen. Boonsang Niempradit and Cambodia's Defence Minister Tea Banh failed to end a military standoff around the ancient Preah Viheartemple.
Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong asked Singapore, the chair of ASEAN, to form a regional "inter-ministerial group" comprising foreign ministers of Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam and Laos to help find a peaceful solution to the current crisis and avoid a military standoff bythe two ASEAN members.
"Thai troops with artillery and tanks are building up along the border, constituting a very serious threat not only to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Cambodia, but also to peace and stability in the region,'' he said in the letter to Singapore's Foreign Minister George Yeolate Monday.
Thani Thongpakdi, deputy spokesman of Thailand's Foreign Ministry, who accompanied the Thai delegation to the ministerial meeting, said all members of the delegation met on late Monday night to discuss theCambodian foreign minister's move.
They viewed both countries should be allowed to continue holding their bilateral talks to tackle the territorial dispute as stated earlier by theASEAN chairman.
He said the Thai delegation would meet the Singapore foreign minister, who is acting as ASEAN chairman, and discuss with the Thai government beforemaking a decision on what it should do next on the matter.
Deputy Prime Minister Sahas Banditkul, who heads the Thai delegation, said he welcomed ASEAN's readiness to play an active role in helping solve theterritorial dispute.
However, he insisted both countries should be given more time to address the conflict in a friendly and cooperative manner first. (TNA)
