Wednesday, 22 October 2008

Rais Meets Thai PM On Cambodian Issue

By D.Arul Rajoo

BANGKOK, Oct 22 (Bernama) -- Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim met Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat on Wednesday to relay a message from Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi suggesting that Thailand and Cambodia de-escalate strained relations between them and avoid an armed conflict.

Dr Rais, who arrived here yesterday, met Somchai at the premier's office at the Don Muang Airport before meeting his Thai counterpart and deputy prime minister Sompong Amornvivat at the same location.

Last Friday, the Malaysian cabinet decided that the prime minister send a message to his Thai counterpart in the Asean spiritas any military conflict between Thailand and Cambodia would have consequences on the region.

Both countries were involved in skirmishes along their disputed border near the Preah Vihear temple on Oct 15 that left two Cambodian and one Thai soldiers dead, and several injured on both sides.

The Preah Vihear temple, known as Phra Viharn in Thailand, was named a World Heritage site at a Unesco meeting in Quebec, Canada this year, despite Thai opposition to the listing.

The skirmish came a day after Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen gave an ultimatum for Thai soldiers to be withdrawn from the disputed border area or face war.

Both Somchai and Hun Sen are scheduled to meet on the sidelines of the Asian and European Summit scheduled for Friday and Saturday in Beijing.

-- BERNAMA
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