Three conditions for renewing ties

Published: 15/12/2009

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

The Cambodian government has to meet three conditions before the Thai government will send its ambassador back to Phnom Penh, government spokesman Panithan Wattanayakorn said on Tuesday.

He said Thai-Cambodian diplomatic relations had made the first step toward a return to normal relations with the release of Sivarak Chutipong from jail.

Thai ambassador Prasas Prasasvinitchai would return to Phnom Penh only if Cambodia corrects its stated opinions of Thailand's justice system, and of its politics, and reverses the appointment of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra as economic adviser to the Cambodian government, he said.

"The government may send a first secretary of the Thai embassy back to Phnom Penh if Cambodia wishes to improve bilateral ties, but I cannot confirm that it would be the same person," the government spokesman said.

Last month, former first secretary Kamrob Palawatwichai was expelled by Cambodia for his involvement in obtaining Thaksin's flight plan, which lead to the arrest and conviction on a spying charge of Sivarak Chutipong, who was pardoned by the Cambodian king on Friday.