Two heads are better than one: Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen (R) and Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva (L) listening during the handover ceremony of seven Cambodian artefacts which were stolen by smugglers over the past decades, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Phnom Penh yesterday. Abhisit is in Cambodia for a one-day official visit to discuss border issues. Picture: ReutersThe Brunei times
PHNOM PENH
Saturday, June 13, 2009
THAI leaders handed over smuggled ancient artefacts to Cambodia yesterday in an effort to soothe relations between the two neighbours who are locked in a military standoff at their disputed border.
The Thai delegation which included Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva returned seven heads from 12th and 13th century Angkorian statues looted from the kingdom over the past decade.
"I think that the handover of artefacts today shows the successful cooperation and good relationship of our two countries," Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said in a ceremony at Cambodia's ministry of foreign affairs.
Relations between the two countries have been strained since July last year when they became mired in a border standoff over disputed land near an ancient Khmer temple in which seven Thai and Cambodian troops have been killed.
Sporadic fighting began when Thailand was angered after the 11th-century Preah Vihear cliff-top ruins were granted United Nations World Heritage status.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen held talks with Abhisit yesterday in which he asked for help preserving his country's heritage, said a government spokesman.
"During the meeting Prime Minister Hun Sen thanked Abhisit and urged him to cooperate to fight against the smuggling of artefacts and return remaining artefacts to Cambodia," spokesman Eang Sophalleth said.
Ownership of the temple was awarded to Cambodia in 1962 but the two countries are in dispute over five square kilometres of land around it that has yet to be officially demarcated.
Both Cambodia and Thailand yesterday pledged to stop any further armed clash at the border area near the Preah Vihear temple, China's Xinhua news agency reported.
The agreement was reached at the meeting of Hun Sen and Abhisit.
"Both Prime Ministers agreed to prevent any armed clash at the areas near the Preah Vihear temple and will prevent the expansion of disputes to any places along the border," Ieng Sophalet, assistant to Premier Hun Sen told reporters after the talks between the two leaders.
Both sides also agreed to solve the border disputes with the existing mechanisms and the border deal has depended on the MOU ( memorandum of understanding) 2000, he said, adding that "the situation of the areas near Preah Vihear now is calm".
"Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen proposed to Thai and Cambodian military commanders and provincial governors along the border between the countries to meet regularly to strengthen the close ties in contribution to border deal and security matters," Ieng Sophalet said.
He added the Cambodian side wanted to see the situation at areas near the Preah Vihear temple and other places return to prior to July 2008. Agencies
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