The Phnom Penh Post
Written by Neth Pheaktra and Georgia Wilkins
Thursday, 08 January 2009
THAILAND'S new foreign minister, Kasit Piromya, will visit Cambodia this month, setting the stage for renewed negotiations over the two countries' disputed border, officials said Wednesday.
Undersecretary of State and spokesman for the Foreign Ministry Koy Kuong confirmed that Kasit would visit Cambodia from January 25-26.
He will meet with Prime Minister Hun Sen and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong, Koy Kuong added. Despite being an informal visit, he said the issue of the border dispute was likely to be pushed to the table by the Cambodian side.
"Although it is just a courtesy call, the Cambodian side will urge the Thai side to speak up and push for the continuation of [border] talks," he said, adding that resolving the ongoing dispute remained a No 1 priority for the government.
Var Kimhong, Cambodia's president of the Joint Border Commission, also confirmed the meeting but would not detail the agenda of the talks.
"Border talks will, maybe, be on the agenda for his visit," he said, playing down the trip as routine for new government officials.
Kasit will be the first official from the new Thai government to visit Cambodia after protesters ousted the former leaders in December.
Written by Neth Pheaktra and Georgia Wilkins
Thursday, 08 January 2009
THAILAND'S new foreign minister, Kasit Piromya, will visit Cambodia this month, setting the stage for renewed negotiations over the two countries' disputed border, officials said Wednesday.
Undersecretary of State and spokesman for the Foreign Ministry Koy Kuong confirmed that Kasit would visit Cambodia from January 25-26.
He will meet with Prime Minister Hun Sen and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong, Koy Kuong added. Despite being an informal visit, he said the issue of the border dispute was likely to be pushed to the table by the Cambodian side.
"Although it is just a courtesy call, the Cambodian side will urge the Thai side to speak up and push for the continuation of [border] talks," he said, adding that resolving the ongoing dispute remained a No 1 priority for the government.
Var Kimhong, Cambodia's president of the Joint Border Commission, also confirmed the meeting but would not detail the agenda of the talks.
"Border talks will, maybe, be on the agenda for his visit," he said, playing down the trip as routine for new government officials.
Kasit will be the first official from the new Thai government to visit Cambodia after protesters ousted the former leaders in December.
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