SINGAPORE, July 21 (TNA) – Deputy Prime Minister Sahas Banditkul on Monday affirmed before the assembled foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) that areas where Preah Vihear temple is situated are Thai territory.
Speaking after joining a dinner with the foreign ministers of 10-member ASEAN, Mr. Sahas, who is acting on behalf of the Thai government at the ASEAN Foreign Ministerial meeting being held here July 21-24, said the Cambodian minister raised the disputed Preah Vihear temple issue for discussion.
He told the ministers of Phnom Penh's move to keep the United Nations informed of the dispute only, but said Cambodia had never wanted to put the issue as an agenda item for the UN Security Council.
Mr. Sahas said he had clarified the issue and affirmed before the foreign ministers that the temple areas are Thai territory.
"Once Cambodia raises the issue for discussion, we explain it. The point is not whether the areas will finally belong to Thailand or Cambodia. But we affirm the areas are our territory,'' he said.
Of late, Mr. Sahas said, the Singaporean foreign minister, who is acting as ASEAN chairman, issued a statement that all members shared a common view that the Preah Vihear temple dispute is an internal affair which both Thailand and Cambodia may have some discrepancy in coming to a proper understanding.
So, they want the neighbouring countries to hold their own talks on the issue first.
Should the negotiations fail, ASEAN is ready to play a role in facilitating efforts to solve the problem, he quoted the Singapore minister as saying. (TNA)
Speaking after joining a dinner with the foreign ministers of 10-member ASEAN, Mr. Sahas, who is acting on behalf of the Thai government at the ASEAN Foreign Ministerial meeting being held here July 21-24, said the Cambodian minister raised the disputed Preah Vihear temple issue for discussion.
He told the ministers of Phnom Penh's move to keep the United Nations informed of the dispute only, but said Cambodia had never wanted to put the issue as an agenda item for the UN Security Council.
Mr. Sahas said he had clarified the issue and affirmed before the foreign ministers that the temple areas are Thai territory.
"Once Cambodia raises the issue for discussion, we explain it. The point is not whether the areas will finally belong to Thailand or Cambodia. But we affirm the areas are our territory,'' he said.
Of late, Mr. Sahas said, the Singaporean foreign minister, who is acting as ASEAN chairman, issued a statement that all members shared a common view that the Preah Vihear temple dispute is an internal affair which both Thailand and Cambodia may have some discrepancy in coming to a proper understanding.
So, they want the neighbouring countries to hold their own talks on the issue first.
Should the negotiations fail, ASEAN is ready to play a role in facilitating efforts to solve the problem, he quoted the Singapore minister as saying. (TNA)
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