THE STRAITS TIMES
Jan 26, 2009
PHNOM PENH - CAMBODIA'S foreign minister said on Monday he and his Thai counterpart had agreed to begin demarcating their disputed border and try to end a stand-off that has sometimes led to military clashes.
Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said he and visiting Thai minister Kasit Piromya agreed they must end a land dispute near an ancient temple, where troops from both nations clashed on October 15, leaving four soldiers dead.
'The demarcation of the border at Preah Vihear temple and discussions over troops is an urgent priority,' he told a joint press conference after the meeting.
'Both sides - Cambodia and Thailand - agreed to set up a date from February 2 to 4 in which the joint border commission will start to demarcate territory.'
Thailand's defence minister will then visit Cambodia on February 6 to discuss withdrawing troops from disputed territory around the 11th century Khmer temple, he added.
Mr Hor said the two countries agreed to 'peaceful and friendly' negotiations and would also form a joint commission before March to demarcate overlapping claims in the Gulf of Siam.
The Cambodia-Thailand border has never been fully demarcated, in part because it is littered with landmines left over from decades of war in Cambodia.
Tensions flared in July when the cliff-top Preah Vihear temple, which is in Cambodia, was awarded United Nations World Heritage status, rekindling the long-running disagreement.
Mr Kasit was scheduled to meet Cambodian king Norodom Sihamoni and premier Hun Sen later in the day. -- AFP
Jan 26, 2009
PHNOM PENH - CAMBODIA'S foreign minister said on Monday he and his Thai counterpart had agreed to begin demarcating their disputed border and try to end a stand-off that has sometimes led to military clashes.
Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said he and visiting Thai minister Kasit Piromya agreed they must end a land dispute near an ancient temple, where troops from both nations clashed on October 15, leaving four soldiers dead.
'The demarcation of the border at Preah Vihear temple and discussions over troops is an urgent priority,' he told a joint press conference after the meeting.
'Both sides - Cambodia and Thailand - agreed to set up a date from February 2 to 4 in which the joint border commission will start to demarcate territory.'
Thailand's defence minister will then visit Cambodia on February 6 to discuss withdrawing troops from disputed territory around the 11th century Khmer temple, he added.
Mr Hor said the two countries agreed to 'peaceful and friendly' negotiations and would also form a joint commission before March to demarcate overlapping claims in the Gulf of Siam.
The Cambodia-Thailand border has never been fully demarcated, in part because it is littered with landmines left over from decades of war in Cambodia.
Tensions flared in July when the cliff-top Preah Vihear temple, which is in Cambodia, was awarded United Nations World Heritage status, rekindling the long-running disagreement.
Mr Kasit was scheduled to meet Cambodian king Norodom Sihamoni and premier Hun Sen later in the day. -- AFP
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