Tuesday, 29 July 2008

Breakthrough reached in Thai-Cambodia border dispute

ABC News

Cambodia and Thailand say troops will be withdrawn from a small area of land near the newly listed World Heritage site, Preah Vihear temple.

The border dispute had threatened to escalate into armed conflict.

The ministers agreed that both countries were committed to finding what they called a peaceful and amicable solution to the border dispute.

As a first step troops would be withdrawn from their positions near Preah Vihear temple where the opposing sides have been stationed within metres of each other.

But the cause of the argument remains the same.

Cambodia's century-old map of the border lays claim to much of the area surrounding Preah Vihear temple while Thailand's more recent version all but isolates the temple.

The ministers did not give details of how that difference of interpretation would be resolved.

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