Thai Foreign Minister in Cambodia for border dispute talks

BANGKOK, July 28 (TNA) - Newly-appointed Thai Foreign Affairs Minister Tej Bunnag is meeting in Cambodia's Siem Reap for talks with his Cambodian counterpart Hor Namhong intended to settle the diplomatic and military standoff with neighbouring Cambodia that has deteriorated the two countries bilateral relations.

Mr. Tej said the disputes may not be easy to resolve, but pledged to try his best in this first task after officially taking office on Sunday.

The minister said he believed the atmosphere of the talks would be positive and would constructively follow up last week's meeting between Thai Supreme Commander Gen. Boonsang Niempradit and Cambodian DefenceMinister Gen Tea Banh at Sa Kaew.

"The atmosphere is surely to be good because the Cambodian ruling party just won the general election on Sunday. They won a two-thirds majority inthe Parliament," he said.

Before leaving Bangkok, Mr. Tej discussed the situation with Second Army Area Commander Lt-Gen. Sujit Sitthiprapa, Lt-Gen. Nipat Thonglek, Chief of the Royal Thai Army's Border Affairs Department, Lt-Gen Dan Meechu-at, head of the Survey Department and security concerned officials to preparethe information.

On Sunday he also met with ranking foreign ministry officials concerning the dispute over the disputed area adjacent to the ancient Preah Viheartemple on the Thai-Cambodian border.

The two countries are locked in a military standoff on the border between Thailand's Kantharalak district in Si Sa Ket province and Cambodia's Preah Vihear province where the 11th century Khmer Hindu temple called PreahVihear stands.

The temple gained a World Heritage site listing status from UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, earlierthis month.

The Siem Reap talks were expected to last only one day. (TNA)