Bili: Agrees the issue is sensitive
The Bangkok Post
Saturday August 02, 2008
Japanese envoy says bilateral talks enough
THANIDA TANSUBHAPOL & WASSANA NANUAM
Foreign Minister Tej Bunnag has suggested that France play a role in helping Thailand and Cambodia find a solution to the sensitive dispute over the overlapping border areas surrounding the 11th century Hindu temple of Preah Vihear. The suggestion was made yesterday after French Ambassador to Thailand Laurent Bili called on Mr Tej to congratulate him on his appointment as foreign minister.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Tharit Charungvat quoted Mr Tej as saying that France could play a role in solving the problems between the neighbours.
''The role of France in this region is long-standing since the colonial period. But in the new era, France can play a constructive role in cooperating with the region and countries like Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam or Thailand,'' Mr Tej was quoted as saying.
Cambodia is a former French colony and France was the only one of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) which supported Cambodia in bringing the two-country border issue to the UNSC.
Mr Bili accepted that he pass on the information to his country and to an envoy based in the UNSC as the dispute was sensitive in nature and very important for the Thai people.
Saturday August 02, 2008
Japanese envoy says bilateral talks enough
THANIDA TANSUBHAPOL & WASSANA NANUAM
Foreign Minister Tej Bunnag has suggested that France play a role in helping Thailand and Cambodia find a solution to the sensitive dispute over the overlapping border areas surrounding the 11th century Hindu temple of Preah Vihear. The suggestion was made yesterday after French Ambassador to Thailand Laurent Bili called on Mr Tej to congratulate him on his appointment as foreign minister.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Tharit Charungvat quoted Mr Tej as saying that France could play a role in solving the problems between the neighbours.
''The role of France in this region is long-standing since the colonial period. But in the new era, France can play a constructive role in cooperating with the region and countries like Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam or Thailand,'' Mr Tej was quoted as saying.
Cambodia is a former French colony and France was the only one of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) which supported Cambodia in bringing the two-country border issue to the UNSC.
Mr Bili accepted that he pass on the information to his country and to an envoy based in the UNSC as the dispute was sensitive in nature and very important for the Thai people.
The ambassador also expressed his understanding over the sensitivity of the issue and said France's position was that this issue be resolved bilaterally or within the region, according to the statement of the Foreign Ministry.
Japanese Ambassador to Thailand Hideaki Kobayashi, who also called on Mr Tej yesterday, agreed that talks at the bilateral level would be enough between Thailand and Cambodia to resolve this thorny problem.
''Japan is ready to support de-mining in the area of the Preah Vihear temple as this kind of project will be a way out to help rebuild the relationship between the two countries,'' said Mr Tharit.
Mr Kobayashi praised Mr Tej for getting the talks off to a good start despite being in the job for just one day before the Siem Reap meeting.
At the National Security Council meeting on Wednesday, the operational-level officials could not reach any agreement on troop withdrawals.
However, a meeting of policy-makers will be held soon to discuss the issue again.
Meanwhile, Supreme Commander Boonsrang Niempradit has given assurances Thailand and Cambodia would remain on speaking terms despite their problems.
He was speaking after a meeting of supreme commanders of the Asean countries at a hotel in Bangkok yesterday.
The Asean supreme commanders met to discuss military measures at the regional level needed to tackle problems such as epidemics, terrorism and disasters.
Regarding the Thai-Cambodia border dispute, Gen Boonsrang said soldiers of the two neighbouring countries know each other well enough and can talk to each other.
Soldiers would be instrumental in bringing about understanding as they speak ''the same language'', he said.
Gen Boonsrang said he was told by Cambodia's supreme commander at the meeting that there was no problem.
He said soldiers had nothing against each other, but sometimes those in power tend to dictate to soldiers.
Gen Boonsrang said military commanders are due to discuss the Thai-Cambodia border issue with the foreign minister in the next few days.
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