ID :
198059
Fri, 07/29/2011 - 12:12
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/198059
The shortlink copeid
ASEAN ready for mediation roles between Thailand and Cambodia
BANGKOK, July 29 (TNA) - The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) appears to be ready for playing its mediation roles to help resolve border rows between Thailand and Cambodia, after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered last week that both Thai and Cambodian troops be withdrawn from an area surrounding the Preah Vihear Temple along the common border.
ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan said that Indonesia, as the current chair of the 10-member ASEAN, has prepared to send its observers to the unsettled area along the Thai-Cambodian border, but Jakarta has waited for Bangkok and Phnom Penh to first sort out their troops' pull-out term; so, the military presence of both countries has remained.
Thailand has accepted the Hague-based ICJ's previous ruling in 1962 on Cambodia’s ownership of the main structure of the 11th-century Preah Vihear Temple, but the Kingdom has claimed sovereignty right over its adjacent area. Cambodia has then filed a new case with the ICJ, requesting the World Court to interpret its 1962 verdict.
Surin acknowledged that it should take some times for the World Court to conclude the new case filed by Phnom Penh, and that the ASEAN, in the meantime, is ready to facilitate troops' withdrawal of the two neighbouring countries and to send observers to station at the unsettled area.
Although Cambodia has called for the ASEAN observers to be dispatched to the disputed border area as soon as possible, Surin suggested that a bilateral agreement between Bangkok and Phnom Penh should be first reached. (TNA)
ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan said that Indonesia, as the current chair of the 10-member ASEAN, has prepared to send its observers to the unsettled area along the Thai-Cambodian border, but Jakarta has waited for Bangkok and Phnom Penh to first sort out their troops' pull-out term; so, the military presence of both countries has remained.
Thailand has accepted the Hague-based ICJ's previous ruling in 1962 on Cambodia’s ownership of the main structure of the 11th-century Preah Vihear Temple, but the Kingdom has claimed sovereignty right over its adjacent area. Cambodia has then filed a new case with the ICJ, requesting the World Court to interpret its 1962 verdict.
Surin acknowledged that it should take some times for the World Court to conclude the new case filed by Phnom Penh, and that the ASEAN, in the meantime, is ready to facilitate troops' withdrawal of the two neighbouring countries and to send observers to station at the unsettled area.
Although Cambodia has called for the ASEAN observers to be dispatched to the disputed border area as soon as possible, Surin suggested that a bilateral agreement between Bangkok and Phnom Penh should be first reached. (TNA)
