Posted on 13 June 2009
The Mirror, Vol. 13, No. 616
http://cambodiamirror.wordpress.com/
The Mirror, Vol. 13, No. 616
http://cambodiamirror.wordpress.com/
“Phnom Penh: An assistant of the Prime Minister said that an official meeting between Samdech Akkak Moha Senapadei Dekchor Hun Sen, the prime minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, and Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva, the prime minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, proceeded in good atmosphere and there were discussions on many problems, including the border issues which is painful at present, and also economic, commercial problems were discussed … and also the overlapping sea areas in the Gulf of Thailand.
“Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva arrived in Cambodia on 12 June 2009 for a one-day official visit in Cambodia, accepting an invitation by Cambodia, as it is a habit of ASEAN countries that new prime ministers have to travel to greet the prime ministers of other countries.
“A reception was organized at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and the official protocol was organized for the first time to greet the foreign senior delegation there, while before such events had been organized at the Phnom Penh International Airport.
“According to officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, such receptions will be continued to be organized there for official visits from partner countries, until the new building of the Council of Ministers will have been completed. During the visit, Mr. Abhisit met with Prime Minister Hun Sen, and he delivered sculptures of historical value back to Cambodia.
“Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva also visited Samdech Preah Boromaneath Norodom Sihamoni, the King of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Samdech Akkak Thoma Pothisal Chea Sim, the president of the Senate, and Samdech Akkak Moha Ponhea Chakrey Heng Samrin, the president of the National Assembly, before returning to his country at night.
“Samdech Hun Sen mentioned the border issues which are painful for both countries, and he encouraged Thailand to instruct their soldiers to use every possible rule of engagement in order to avoid armed clashes along the border. He asked Thailand to prevent disputes from spreading from place to place, which then would affect also other sectors. An assistant of Prime Minister Samdech Dekchor Hun Sen, Mr. Eang Sophalet, said in a press conference after the meeting that what was suggested by Samdech Hun Sen regarding the border issues was totally agreed upon also by the Thai side.
“Mr. Eng Sophalet added that Mr. Abhisit said that his visit to Cambodia was a good opportunity for the governments and people of both countries, and what both countries have talked about so far is about the National Road 68, which is being discussed, and there are preparations to come to a decision. He discussed this also directly with the Thai Minister of Finance and learned that this plan can proceed more quickly. Related to the buffer zone issues, the Thai Prime Minister said that this requires more negotiations. Related to the development of the Me Teuk river, Mr. Abhisit suggested that technical experts of both countries conduct discussions to reach an agreement to develop it so as to encourage the strengthening and expansion of mutual cooperation between the two countries.
“Mr. Eang Sophalet added that Mr. Abhisit suggested the creation of a Cambodian-Thai cultural association to support and encourage cultural meetings between Cambodia and Thailand. He continued to say during the conference that Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen suggested that Cambodia and Thailand should encourage stronger cooperation in commerce, since so far, the export and import of goods of both countries are worth more than US$2 billion, but there must be a balance between exports and imports. Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen expressed his thanks to the Thai government that cares to respond to the requests by Cambodia, which contributes to help Cambodia and other countries to integrate in ASEAN.
“Mr. Eang Sophalet went on to say that Samdech Dekchor agreed with the Thai prime minister to encourage technical experts to continue to study the construction of a hydro-electric dam at the Me Teuk river region, and he expressed his appreciation toward the Royal Government of Thailand for returning seven Khmer sculptures, which reflects the cultural cooperation between both countries, while both countries crack down on illegal trafficking and stealing of artifacts. He hopes that Thailand will return the rest of the artifacts for which Cambodia had sent documentation already.
“Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen asked Thailand to consider the creation of a second international border crossing point near the Poipet border crossing, to be used to serve tourists only, while the other border crossing point would be only for the export and import of goods of both countries. Samdech Dekchor entirely agreed with the request to establish a cultural association by Thailand, and he encourages stronger cooperation in this sector. He asked also for meetings between the counterparts in the military and between provincial governors, to guarantee good mutual ties, and to return to the situation before 15 July 2008 [after Preah Vihear – the temple alone - had been declared a UNESCO World Heritage, but in Cambodia this was celebrated as a victory also for the contested areas around the temple; when Thailand sent uniformed personnel into the buffer zone, this led to armed conflict, the buffer zone, which the Cambodian negotiators had explicitly not claimed - “for the time being” - in order to get Preah Vihear listed]. Samdech also asked Thailand to consider encouraging procedures for the exemption of visa fees in the framework of AMEC [?], and the Thai prime minister responded that this is under consideration.
“In the evening of 12 July 2009, Samdech Akkak Moha Ponhea Chakrey Heng Samrin, the president of the National Assembly, met with Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva, the prime minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, at the National Assembly, who led a delegation to visit the Kingdom of Cambodia.
“This is the first time that Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva visited the Kingdom of Cambodia officially since has was appointed as prime minister of Thailand.
“The chief of the cabinet of the president of the National Assembly, Mr. Kom Kosal, said after the meeting, that on behalf of the National Assembly of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Samdech Heng Samrin had expressed his warmest welcome to Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva, he took the opportunity to meet and greet him, while he was leading a delegation coming to visit the Kingdom of Cambodia. Samdech Heng Samrin considered the presence of the Thai prime minister and the accompanying delegation on that day as a great honor for the National Assembly of Cambodia, especially as this strengthens and expands the friendship and unity between the people of both countries, Cambodia and Thailand. Samdech Heng Samrin expressed his satisfaction and welcomed the nomination of the new Thai Prime Minister, the most important position, and through this, Samdech Heng Samrin strongly believes that Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva will step up bilateral cooperation between both countries under the framework of ASEAN. Samdech Heng Samrin added that the Kingdom of Cambodia and the Kingdom of Thailand had signed the ASEAN Constitution and the National Assembly of the Kingdom of Cambodia had ratified the ASEAN Constitution, and both countries make efforts to develop ASEAN, and especially to help Cambodia catch up with the other ASEAN countries.
“Regarding the Cambodian and Thai bilateral relations, the National Assembly of the Kingdom of Cambodia hopes that the bonds of cooperation between the National Assemblies of both countries will be further strengthened, and particularly, Cambodia wants to have good cooperation agreements with all its neighboring countries. Samdech Heng Samrin continued to say that Cambodia has already signed cooperation agreements with the president of the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, with the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, and with the People’s Republic of China.
“Also, the Thai prime minister, Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva, told the president of the National Assembly of Cambodia that the intention to meet Samdech Heng Samrin is to bring his greetings during his and his delegation’s to visit to Cambodia for one day. He added that his visit to Cambodia aims to strengthen the cooperation between both countries’ governments to become closer, and will expand into more cooperation in all sectors. Especially, he hopes to focused most on cooperation in investments as well as in tourism. He continued to say that there are important principles established previously which need to be encouraged, like the construction of roads, the development of energy, the solving of the problem of the overlapping areas in the sea, especially also the problem of oil. As for agriculture, he plans to strengthen cooperation between both countries to make people have peace and improve their everyday living conditions. Besides the fields of economy, culture, health, and education, both countries have to focus on the related legislation, there will also be visits for exchange. As for the border issue, Mr. Abhisit had also said when he met with the government of Cambodia, that they try to solve the problems peacefully, following memorandums of understanding signed by both countries, and use the existing mechanisms to negotiate both at the national and at provincial levels near the border. He added that Thailand will try to avoid clashes by looking for peaceful solutions instead.”
Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.8, #1969, 13.6.2009
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Saturday, 13 June 2009
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