via Khmer NZ
Published: 3/09/2010
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen is ready for talks with Thai counterpart Abhisit Vejjajiva during the United Nations General Assembly in New York this month, Prime Minister's Office Minister Ong-art Klampaiboon said on Friday on returning from Cambodia.
During his visit to Cambodia, Mr Ong-art met the minister of information and paid a courtesy call on Hun Sen.
Mr Ong-art said Hun Sen was of the opinion that he and Mr Abhisit could meet while attending the United Nations General Assembly on Sept 24.
"He said it is not necessary to wait until the Asem summit. He said they can hold a close-door meeting during the general assembly in October and talk over various issues, including trade, investment or even about Preah Vihear," Mr Ong-art said.
Hun Sen denied having said he did not want to talk with Mr Abhisit, he added.
Earlier, Asean secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan said he expected Mr Abhisit and Hun Sen to meet and discuss the Preah Vihear dispute during the Asean-Europe leaders summit in Brussels in October.
The Asem summit, to be attended by leaders from 47 countries from Europe, Asean and other countries in Asia, will be held on Oct 4 and 5.
To strengthen relations between the two countries, Mr Ong-art, who oversees the Public Relations Department, said that an agreement he made with the minister of information allows a team of Cambodian news reporters to be stationed in Thailand.
The Cambodian reporters would monitor news in Thailand, and qoluld have access to various Thai leaders.
Mr Ong-art said he had coordinated with the Foreign Ministry concerning this matter and the ministry had agreed to cooperate.
The news team was expected to arrive in Thailand this month.
A hotline would be set up, probably for a direct contact with the information minister of Cambodia, in case there was a misunderstanding between the two countries.
Arrangements would be made for Thai artists to perform concerts in Cambodia and for Cambodian artists to come to Thailand under an exchange programme.
Mr Ong-art said he explained to Cambodia that the Foreign Affairs Ministry is still in the process of surveying the people's opinions regarding the demarcation of the Thai-Cambodian border under the framework agreed by the Joint Border Committee (JBC). It would also take some time for the Thai government to go through various procedures, including approval from parliament.
He and Hun Sen did not talk about former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Mr Ong-art said.
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