Monday, 27 October 2008

Thailand: Cambodia talks productive

PRESS TV
Sun, 26 Oct 2008

A Senior Thai official describes informal talks with Cambodia aimed at resolving border disputes which recently turned violent as 'productive'.

Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Sompong Amornvivat said in a national television program Sunday morning that both sides had favored a peaceful solution.

Prime Minister and Defense Minister Somchai Wongsawat met with Cambodian Premier Hun Sen on the sidelines of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in Beijing.

Sompong said during a program aired by state-run NBT channel that he planned to ask the parliament to consider the framework of the Thai-Cambodian Joint Border Committee (JBC) this Tuesday.

Last week, Somchai called for bilateral talks at the 7th ASEM, saying it was 'critically important'.

On October 15, border disputes over the 11th century Preah Vihear temple escalated into deadly clashes, in which two Cambodian soldiers were killed and seven Thai troops injured.

Earlier this month, at least one Cambodian soldier and two Thai troops were injured during sporadic exchange of gunfire.

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