Hua Hin talks open way for peaceful resolution of Thai-Cambodian border

HUA HIN, Aug 19 (TNA) -- Thai Foreign Minister Tej Bunnag and Hor Namhong, his Cambodian counterpart are meeting in this Thai seaside resort Tuesday, following informal talks Monday evening and it was expected that their meetings would take place throughout the day on Tuesday.

Thailand's foreign ministry spokesman Tharit Charungvat said the talkswere moving in a positive direction.

Relative calm and normalcy have returned to the ill-defined Thai-Cambodian border as the foreign ministers of the two neighbours welcomed one another to a new round of discussions aimed to put to rest differences that havecontributed to bad feeling on both sides of the border.

While both countries retain small token military forces in some of the ancient Preah Vihear temple along the border, the large numbers of combat-ready troops who crowded the ancient temple environs a few weeksago have since been pulled back, and those who remain are 'friends' again.

In 1962 the International Court of Justice ruled that the Preah Viheartemple is part to Cambodia, but the surrounding land remains in dispute.

Landmines from several wars still produce casualties among Cambodian and Thai farmers and anyone attempting to cross the border. The landmines are seen as part of the reason that the border has never been fullydemarcated.

Mr. Tharit said that the situation had improved greatly and that thetensions that were previously clearly apparent have largely eased.

The Thai foreign ministry spokesman said he expected the situation to beentirely normalised soon.