ASEAN chair to issue statement on Thai-Cambodian border issues

BANGKOK, July 22 (TNA) - Indonesia, the current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), will reportedly issue a statement on Thai-Cambodian border problems soon to express its hope for the two neighbouring countries to follow the International Court of Justice (ICJ)’s recent order.

ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan said after a foreign ministers’ meeting between ASEAN and the United States on the Bali Island in Indonesia on Friday that US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has urged ASEAN to help solve border disputes between Thailand and Cambodia.

Surin revealed that Indonesia, in its capacity as the ASEAN's current chair, would, therefore, issue the chairman’s statement on Thai-Cambodian border issues at the 44th ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting, under which both Thailand and Cambodia will be urged to follow the temporary demilitarized zone ordered by the Hague-based World Court in order to restore peace along their common border.

Thailand's outgoing prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, in the meantime, called on the new Thai government, led by the Pheu Thai Party, to do the best of its ability to protect national interests.

Meanwhile, Thailand's 2nd Army Area Command announced that it will allow visitors to tour the Mor E Daeng cliff in the Khao Phra Wiharn National Park in Kantharalak District of Si Sa Ket Province in the Thai Northeast bordering Cambodia again from Saturday onward, as border vendors are preparing to return to their businesses. Visits to the Thai border national park and the cliff will be free of charges.

The border cliff has been closed for a long period due to recent border clashes between Thai and Cambodian troops. (TNA)