via Khmer NZ
On 20 August 2010, Ms. Vimon Kidchob, Director-General of the Department of Information and Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, was asked by the media regarding the letter which the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia sent to Vietnam in its capacity as ASEAN Chair, proposing that ASEAN assist in the current problem between Thailand and Cambodia. In response, the Foreign Ministry Spokesperson said that Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya had sent a letter to H.E. Mr. Pham Gia Khiem, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam, which had also been circulated to the foreign ministers of the other ASEAN member countries. In his letter, Foreign Minister Kasit made the following points:
1. Thailand remains committed as always to exercising utmost restraint. It is the Kingdom’s goal to resolve this bilateral issue peacefully and in good faith, and through bilateral channels in accordance with existing bilateral agreements and international law. The allegations contained in the Note from Cambodia are unfounded.
2. Despite perceptions of tension, bilateral communications between Thailand and Cambodia continue unabated through various channels and mechanisms. Both countries continue to cooperate on a wide range of issues at all levels, whether bilateral, sub-regional or regional. Normal cross-border activities between the peoples on both sides of the border remain business as usual.
3. The Thai Cabinet already re-submitted the Agreed Minutes of the recent meetings of the Thai-Cambodian Joint Commission on Demarcation for Land Boundary (JBC) to the Parliament for approval in line with the country’s Constitution. The matter is now with the Parliament and will proceed in accordance with Thailand’s democratic process.
4. With continued understanding from ASEAN colleagues, Thailand and Cambodia will succeed in overcoming the current bilateral challenge for the mutual benefits of the two countries and peoples in the spirit of good neighbourliness and ASEAN solidarity. The bilateral process should continue to proceed, as was the general will of the ASEAN family when ASEAN discussed this issue two years ago.
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