ID :
13831
Fri, 07/25/2008 - 20:53
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/13831
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New FM to be named, represent Thailand in Cambodian dispute
BANGKOK, July 25 (TNA) - Thailand will send a new foreign minister torepresent the kingdom in bilateral talks with Cambodia's foreign minister in that country's Siem Reap province on Monday.
The name of the new minister has not yet been released, but royalendorsement may be announced Friday evening.
Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej Friday afternoon affirmed that he will name a new foreign minister and send the new emissary off on a maiden mission to resolve the military standoff with Cambodia in theirterritorial dispute, according to a Thai government spokesman.
The Foreign Minister post was vacated after Noppadon Pattama resigned on July 10, two days after the Constitution Court ruled that his signing of a joint document backing Cambodia's bid to list the long-disputed Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage site without endorsement by the Thai parliament was in breach of the country's supreme law.
Earlier a deputy prime minister was to be delegated, according to Deputy Government Spokesman Nattawut Saikua. He noted that Cambodia would have a general election on Sunday and that its incumbent government on Monday would in fact be an interim government, until the new elected government is formed.
Prime Minister Samak and his Cambodian counterpart Prime Minister Hun Sen agreed by telephone Thursday that their foreign ministers will meet Monday to try to find a peaceful solution to the military standoff.
In addition, Cambodia asked the UN Security Council to postpone its formal meeting on the border dispute until after the talks.
Phnom Penh stressed that Cambodia is only postponing, not cancelling, its request for the UN Security Council to meet to consider intervention in the dispute over contested land near Phreah Vihear temple.
The International Court of Justice awarded the temple to Cambodia in 1962, in a decision that Thailand was reluctant to accept. Nevertheless the only practical access for visitors from either country, or from abroad, is through Thailand.
On July 8, the temple was added to the World Heritage List maintained by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
The name of the new minister has not yet been released, but royalendorsement may be announced Friday evening.
Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej Friday afternoon affirmed that he will name a new foreign minister and send the new emissary off on a maiden mission to resolve the military standoff with Cambodia in theirterritorial dispute, according to a Thai government spokesman.
The Foreign Minister post was vacated after Noppadon Pattama resigned on July 10, two days after the Constitution Court ruled that his signing of a joint document backing Cambodia's bid to list the long-disputed Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage site without endorsement by the Thai parliament was in breach of the country's supreme law.
Earlier a deputy prime minister was to be delegated, according to Deputy Government Spokesman Nattawut Saikua. He noted that Cambodia would have a general election on Sunday and that its incumbent government on Monday would in fact be an interim government, until the new elected government is formed.
Prime Minister Samak and his Cambodian counterpart Prime Minister Hun Sen agreed by telephone Thursday that their foreign ministers will meet Monday to try to find a peaceful solution to the military standoff.
In addition, Cambodia asked the UN Security Council to postpone its formal meeting on the border dispute until after the talks.
Phnom Penh stressed that Cambodia is only postponing, not cancelling, its request for the UN Security Council to meet to consider intervention in the dispute over contested land near Phreah Vihear temple.
The International Court of Justice awarded the temple to Cambodia in 1962, in a decision that Thailand was reluctant to accept. Nevertheless the only practical access for visitors from either country, or from abroad, is through Thailand.
On July 8, the temple was added to the World Heritage List maintained by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
