Wednesday, 11 February 2009

Bilateral Border Talks Get ‘Results’: Official

By Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Washington
10 February 2009

Cambodia is maintaining peaceful bilateral talks with Thailand, despite the recent failure of a border commission to resolve the ongoing military standoff at Preah Vihear temple, a senior official said Monday.

“What is important is the Kingdom of Cambodia, and Prime Minister Hun Sen, we honor Thailand as our neighbor,” Phay Siphan, a spokesman for the Council of Ministers, said, as a guest on “Hello VOA.”

A resolution to the standoff will require “patience,” he said. “That is the solution through peaceful means.”

Cambodia and Thailand remain at odds over a small stretch of land on the Preah Vihear border, with both sides claiming ownership and each using a different map.

A meeting of a Joint Border Committee last week failed to resolve the longstanding issues, but both sides have agreed in principal to withdrawing the thousands of troops that have built up on each side.

“We have some results in every talk with Thailand,” Phay Siphan said.

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