Thai-Cambodian relations soured last month over a dispute involving the ancient Preah Vihear temple on the shared border. [Reuters]Radio Australia
August 19, 2008
optimistic that a new round of talks with Thailand will result in a lasting solution to a long-running border dispute.
At the weekend, up to 1,000 Cambodian and Thai troops pulled back from a small patch of disputed land near Cambodia's 11th century Preah Vihear temple, suggesting that an end to the month-long military stand-off could be near.
Twenty troops from both sides remain stationed at a small pagoda in the contentious border area, while 40 Cambodian and Thai solders remain nearby.
Mr Hor Namhong and his Thai counterpart, Tej Bunnag, are in the Thai beach resort town of Hua Hin to launch another round of talks aimed at finding a long-term solution to the dispute.
Relations between the neighbours degenerated last month after Preah Vihear was awarded World Heritage status by the UN cultural body UNESCO, angering nationalists in Thailand who still claim ownership of the ancient Khmer temple.
On July 15, Cambodia arrested three Thai protesters for illegally crossing the border to try to reach the temple, sparking the deployment of troops from both sides on the tiny patch of disputed land near Preah Vihear.
August 19, 2008
optimistic that a new round of talks with Thailand will result in a lasting solution to a long-running border dispute.
At the weekend, up to 1,000 Cambodian and Thai troops pulled back from a small patch of disputed land near Cambodia's 11th century Preah Vihear temple, suggesting that an end to the month-long military stand-off could be near.
Twenty troops from both sides remain stationed at a small pagoda in the contentious border area, while 40 Cambodian and Thai solders remain nearby.
Mr Hor Namhong and his Thai counterpart, Tej Bunnag, are in the Thai beach resort town of Hua Hin to launch another round of talks aimed at finding a long-term solution to the dispute.
Relations between the neighbours degenerated last month after Preah Vihear was awarded World Heritage status by the UN cultural body UNESCO, angering nationalists in Thailand who still claim ownership of the ancient Khmer temple.
On July 15, Cambodia arrested three Thai protesters for illegally crossing the border to try to reach the temple, sparking the deployment of troops from both sides on the tiny patch of disputed land near Preah Vihear.
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