Foreign Minister Tej Bunnag, left, speaks with his Cambodian counterpart Hor Namhong over lunch at a hotel in Siem Reap, Cambodia. They held talks yesterday to defuse a row over the area near Preah Vihear temple that has raised fears of a military clash.The Bangkok Post
Tuesday July 29, 2008
THANIDA TANSUBHAPOL
SIEM REAP : Thailand and Cambodia will soon withdraw their troops from the disputed area near the Preah Vihear temple to end the border row which erupted after the temple was listed as a World Heritage site, Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said yesterday.
After 12 hours of talks involving the Cambodian foreign minister and his Thai counterpart Tej Bunnag, the two countries agreed to take steps to ease the tension on the border.
The two countries will set up a committee to decide the size of the military deployment in the 4.6 square kilometre area between Kantharalak district in Si Sa Ket province and the Cambodian province of Preah Vihear, a source in the meeting said.
But Mr Hor Namhong expected there would soon be no troops from either sides in the area.
"The military withdrawal will take place soon," he said through his interpreter. "The meeting was successful. It was the first meeting and it definitely will not be the last," he added.
Other issues discussed by the two countries included a plan to have the Joint Boundary Commission resume talks on the land border demarcation, a joint attempt to clear landmines in the area near the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple and a promise not to use force.
Other problems not resolved yesterday will be tabled in the next round of talks between the two ministers. The date for the next meeting has not been set.
The Cambodian minister cautioned that the settlement of border issues would take time.
A Thai source also ruled out the possibility of resolving the problem overnight. "I don't believe that it will be solved in one meeting. But at least this meeting is a step toward the solution," the source said.
Mr Tej will report on the outcome of the meeting to Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and his cabinet today.
He said the atmosphere at the meeting was good because he knew the Cambodian officials taking part.
Mr Tej and Mr Hor Namhong were once the representatives of their countries to the United Nations in Geneva.
Tuesday July 29, 2008
THANIDA TANSUBHAPOL
SIEM REAP : Thailand and Cambodia will soon withdraw their troops from the disputed area near the Preah Vihear temple to end the border row which erupted after the temple was listed as a World Heritage site, Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said yesterday.
After 12 hours of talks involving the Cambodian foreign minister and his Thai counterpart Tej Bunnag, the two countries agreed to take steps to ease the tension on the border.
The two countries will set up a committee to decide the size of the military deployment in the 4.6 square kilometre area between Kantharalak district in Si Sa Ket province and the Cambodian province of Preah Vihear, a source in the meeting said.
But Mr Hor Namhong expected there would soon be no troops from either sides in the area.
"The military withdrawal will take place soon," he said through his interpreter. "The meeting was successful. It was the first meeting and it definitely will not be the last," he added.
Other issues discussed by the two countries included a plan to have the Joint Boundary Commission resume talks on the land border demarcation, a joint attempt to clear landmines in the area near the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple and a promise not to use force.
Other problems not resolved yesterday will be tabled in the next round of talks between the two ministers. The date for the next meeting has not been set.
The Cambodian minister cautioned that the settlement of border issues would take time.
A Thai source also ruled out the possibility of resolving the problem overnight. "I don't believe that it will be solved in one meeting. But at least this meeting is a step toward the solution," the source said.
Mr Tej will report on the outcome of the meeting to Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and his cabinet today.
He said the atmosphere at the meeting was good because he knew the Cambodian officials taking part.
Mr Tej and Mr Hor Namhong were once the representatives of their countries to the United Nations in Geneva.
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