Chuna Post
By SOPHENG CHEANG, AP
Monday, August 18, 2008
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia -- Border talks topped the agenda Monday for Thai and Cambodian foreign ministers heading into a meeting to find a lasting solution to a lingering territorial dispute that brought the two neighbors close to an armed clash.
The meeting was to begin Monday evening with informal talks at dinner in the Thai resort town of Hua Hin. A more formal session is to be held Tuesday. It follows two earlier inconclusive rounds of talks.
Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej paid a visit to Thai soldiers in the area ahead of the meeting, declaring the need to resolve the dispute peacefully.
On July 28, the foreign ministers of both countries agreed to withdraw their troops from the disputed area near the 11th century Preah Vihear temple.
Both sides pulled out most of their troops from the disputed territory on Saturday, leaving only 10 soldiers from each side at the compound of a pagoda near the temple, according to Hang Soth, director-general of the Preah Vihear National Authority, a Cambodian government agency managing the historic site.
Before departing for Thailand, Cambodia's Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said he was "optimistic the meeting will achieve a good success" and lead to "a lasting solution to border problems between Cambodia and Thailand."
He reiterated his government's previous stance to solve the problems with Thailand peacefully and amicably, because "our two countries share a lot of economic and trade interests."
He said he will also pay a visit to Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej on Tuesday.
Hor Namhong said the two countries will work toward pulling out all the remaining troops from the area to allow for mine clearance operations and border demarcation.
About 800 troops from Cambodia and 400 from Thailand had been deployed to Preah Vihear and the surrounding area in a monthlong standoff in which weapons were drawn once but no shots were fired.
The armed standoff began on July 15 after UNESCO, the U.N.'s cultural agency, approved Cambodia's application to have the Preah Vihear temple named a World Heritage Site. Thailand and Cambodia have both long claimed the temple, which the World Court awarded to Cambodia in 1962.
Thailand's Samak, in his capacity as defense minister, told his country's troops based near the temple Monday that they should live in peaceful co-existence with Cambodia's soldiers.
"I want the soldiers who are based here to show restraint because the policy of my government is not to go to war with neighboring countries," he said. "It is the responsibility of the government to talk with Cambodia for a peaceful solution, not war."
Samak, a talented amateur chef, helped cook a meal for some of the Thai troops.
By SOPHENG CHEANG, AP
Monday, August 18, 2008
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia -- Border talks topped the agenda Monday for Thai and Cambodian foreign ministers heading into a meeting to find a lasting solution to a lingering territorial dispute that brought the two neighbors close to an armed clash.
The meeting was to begin Monday evening with informal talks at dinner in the Thai resort town of Hua Hin. A more formal session is to be held Tuesday. It follows two earlier inconclusive rounds of talks.
Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej paid a visit to Thai soldiers in the area ahead of the meeting, declaring the need to resolve the dispute peacefully.
On July 28, the foreign ministers of both countries agreed to withdraw their troops from the disputed area near the 11th century Preah Vihear temple.
Both sides pulled out most of their troops from the disputed territory on Saturday, leaving only 10 soldiers from each side at the compound of a pagoda near the temple, according to Hang Soth, director-general of the Preah Vihear National Authority, a Cambodian government agency managing the historic site.
Before departing for Thailand, Cambodia's Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said he was "optimistic the meeting will achieve a good success" and lead to "a lasting solution to border problems between Cambodia and Thailand."
He reiterated his government's previous stance to solve the problems with Thailand peacefully and amicably, because "our two countries share a lot of economic and trade interests."
He said he will also pay a visit to Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej on Tuesday.
Hor Namhong said the two countries will work toward pulling out all the remaining troops from the area to allow for mine clearance operations and border demarcation.
About 800 troops from Cambodia and 400 from Thailand had been deployed to Preah Vihear and the surrounding area in a monthlong standoff in which weapons were drawn once but no shots were fired.
The armed standoff began on July 15 after UNESCO, the U.N.'s cultural agency, approved Cambodia's application to have the Preah Vihear temple named a World Heritage Site. Thailand and Cambodia have both long claimed the temple, which the World Court awarded to Cambodia in 1962.
Thailand's Samak, in his capacity as defense minister, told his country's troops based near the temple Monday that they should live in peaceful co-existence with Cambodia's soldiers.
"I want the soldiers who are based here to show restraint because the policy of my government is not to go to war with neighboring countries," he said. "It is the responsibility of the government to talk with Cambodia for a peaceful solution, not war."
Samak, a talented amateur chef, helped cook a meal for some of the Thai troops.
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