Tuesday, 29 July 2008

Cambodian PM: Problems of border dispute on Thai side

2008-07-29

PHNOM PENH, July 29 (Xinhua) -- The current problem about the settlement of the two-week-long Cambodian-Thai border dispute is what, when and how the political decision will be take by the Thai government, said Prime Minister Hun Sen here Tuesday.

"For our side, we have no problem. The problem is with the Thai side. We understand their difficulty. They need discussion and approval of the cabinet," he told reporters at the foreign ministry after meeting with Japanese visitors.

Monday after 12 hours of intensive talks in Siem Reap province, foreign ministers of Cambodian and Thailand agreed to consider withdrawing troops from a pivotal pagoda situated on the only way leading to the Preah Vihear Temple and the areas around it to avoid military tension.

Thai foreign minister said that he needed to report it to the government for final decision and the Cambodian side said that the two countries could open a new meeting later.

Talks between Thailand's armed forces chief General Boonsrang Niumpradit and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Tea Banh ended one week ago without resolution. ASEAN intervention also failed the next day.

Over 1,000 soldiers have deployed near the temple since July 15in manifestation of either sides' claim of one piece of 4.6 square km land at the border area.

The International Court of Justice ruled in 1962 that the temple belongs to Cambodia, but surrounding land remains in dispute.

Editor: Pliny Han

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