ID :
177985
Tue, 04/26/2011 - 12:11
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/177985
The shortlink copeid
Defense minister: Thailand will not lose a square inch of its territory to Cambodia
BANGKOK, April 26 (TNA) - Thai Defense Minister General Prawit Wongsuwon confirms Thai soldiers can still control the border situation with Cambodia and will not lose a square inch of Thai territory. He believes bilateral negotiation is still possible.
Gen Prawit said that small clashes between Thai and Cambodian soldiers were continuing at times and overall situations are still under control. If Cambodia violates Thai sovereignty, Thailand will respond likewise. He said the armed forces would defend Thai sovereignty and would not lose any Thai territory.
The defense minister confirmed that Cambodia was trying to occupy Ta Kwai temple which was in a disputed area and that the Thai armed forces were preventing Cambodian invasion.
The minister still believes that both sides can still solve their problems through negotiation. He said that the Thai armed forces have not changed their policies toward Cambodia, leaving a review of cooperation with Cambodia to the Foreign Ministry.
The defense minister hopes that international mechanisms, especially those of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), can help solve Thai-Cambodian problems. He said Indonesia, as the ASEAN chair, was ready to arrange for Thai-Cambodian negotiations and Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva would attend the ASEAN Summit in Indonesia early next month and should have a chance to talk with the Cambodian leader.
Gen Prawit said Thai authorities have tried to contact Cambodian counterparts in clash sites for negotiation in the past few days but to no avail. (TNA)
Gen Prawit said that small clashes between Thai and Cambodian soldiers were continuing at times and overall situations are still under control. If Cambodia violates Thai sovereignty, Thailand will respond likewise. He said the armed forces would defend Thai sovereignty and would not lose any Thai territory.
The defense minister confirmed that Cambodia was trying to occupy Ta Kwai temple which was in a disputed area and that the Thai armed forces were preventing Cambodian invasion.
The minister still believes that both sides can still solve their problems through negotiation. He said that the Thai armed forces have not changed their policies toward Cambodia, leaving a review of cooperation with Cambodia to the Foreign Ministry.
The defense minister hopes that international mechanisms, especially those of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), can help solve Thai-Cambodian problems. He said Indonesia, as the ASEAN chair, was ready to arrange for Thai-Cambodian negotiations and Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva would attend the ASEAN Summit in Indonesia early next month and should have a chance to talk with the Cambodian leader.
Gen Prawit said Thai authorities have tried to contact Cambodian counterparts in clash sites for negotiation in the past few days but to no avail. (TNA)
