Written by DAP NEWS -- Friday, 16 October 2009 11:05
(POsted by CAAI News Media)
Cambodia on Thurday urged Thai leaders to speed up solving the border conflict. If not, Cambodia will raise the issue at international summits, according to a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFAIC).
The suggestion comes after Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya sent a formal letter to Hor Namhong, Cambodian Foreign Minister, to claim he was misquoted by the Bangkok Post on October 8.
“Cambodia is ready to face solving with Thailand about border conflict though any mechanism,” Koy Koung, MFAIC under secretary of state, told DAP News Cambodia on Thursday.
“If Thai leaders insist on solving bilaterally, Thai leaders must speed up internal processes leading to settle the border issue, especially its National Assembly must adopt all agreements which both parties have approved,” Koy Kuong added.
Kasit Piromya sent a formal letter to Cambodian Foreign Minister just one day after Hor Namhong said that Cambodia will raise the border dispute at the upcoming ASEAN summit.
Kasit’s claims that the interview as published in the Bangkok Post and online “was a result of misquotation. I was essentially informing the press about progress made in the developing the dispute settlement mechanism under the ASEAN charter undertaken by the High Level Legal Experts.”
“Secondly,” Kasit wrote, “I also wish to recall the statements issued by Singapore as ASEAN Chair at the 41st AMMPMC/15th ARF, 17-24 July, 2008, which underscored the general view that the bilateral process should be allowed to continue and that Thailand and Cambodia should settle the matter amicably. This sentiment was also shared by the 15th ARF.”
“Thirdly, On this note, I also refer to the agreement reached between our two Prime Ministers during my Prime Minister’s visit to Cambodia on 12 June 2009 where both side agreed that the issue of the Temple of Preah Vihear be addressed through existing bilateral mechanisms between our two countries. “Fourthly, the most important point that we should remind ourselves is that we should avoid raising bilateral issues within the ASEAN framed work. Otherwise, we would be setting a dangerous precedent for ASEAN and future ASEAN summits.”
ASEAN Chief Surin Pitsuwan said Wednesday he did not believe that Cambodia will raise the border issue at the upcoming ASEAN summit in Cha-am and Hua Hin districts this month, according the Nation and the Bangkok Post.
“I knew the Cambodian stance only from news report. I think that the border spat is the issue between the two countries which can be agreed at bilateral talks,” Surin was quoted as saying by the Nation. “It should not be raised in the ASEAN Summit.”
However, Koy Kuong seemed to have similar views. “I hope that premier Hun Sen may not raise this issue at ASEAN summit held in Cha-am and Hua Hin from 23-25 October, 2009, Thailand,” he said.
The World Court on June 15, 1962 ruled that Preah Vihear and its immediate surroundings belong to Cambodia.
The UNESCO World Heritage Committee on July 07, 2008 inscribed Preah Vihear as a World Heritage Site. One week afterwards, Thailand sent soldiers to attempt to illegally encroach onto land near Preah Vihear Temple.
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