No war in Cambodia: PM

Monday, 07 December 2009 03:29 DAP-NEWS

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Saturday reassured that Cambodia will not provoke a war with any of its neighboring countries.

The premier’s confirmation came after Cambodian-Thailand diplomatic ties were down, leading to the mutual withdrawal of ambassadors.

The premier said during a ceremony to mark the construction of National Road 68 construction in Oddor Meanchey province, bordering Thailand on Saturday that the road will now be built by the Cambodian Government alone at a cost of more than US$30 Million. The 117 km road will link Odor Meanchey and Siem Reap.

Cambodia has cancel a loan agreement for over US$41 million with Thailand.

“Cambodia is changing the border into peace with the bordering countries, becoming to cooperation and development,” the premier said. “If any action is out of this way, the integration could not be built in the region or the world.”

However, the situation at the border between the two countries is normal and the two militaries have good relations.

Thai Defense Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan said Friday that the relationship of the Thai and Cambodian militaries has remains good, according to Xinhua. The diplomatic tension has not affected the bilateral cooperation between the Thai and Cambodian militaries along the border, he added.

“At the army level, after talking to Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Banh, we have agreed we will always cooperate as Defense Minister Tea understands every matter, no problem,” General Prawit said.

The Thai and Cambodian defense ministers met on Nov. 27 in Thailand during a meeting of the Thai-Cambo- dian Joint Border Committee (JBC).

During the JBC meeting, the two sides have agreed that they will not use force to deal with the border matter.

The diplomatic problem has occurred after Cambodia has appointed ousted former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra as an economic advisor to Cambodia’s government and Prime Minister Hun Sen from November 4.

A day after the appointment, the Cambodian government announced the recall of its ambassador to Thailand in a move to respond to the Thai government’s recall of its ambassador to Cambodia.