Wednesday, 16 February 2011

1st Ld: Cambodia to ask ASEAN to send observers to Cambodia-Thai disputed border area: FM

via CAAI

PHNOM PENH, Feb 15, 2011 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- Cambodia will ask ASEAN to send observers to the disputed areas between Cambodia and Thailand near Preah Vihear temple to ensure a permanent cease fire, Hor Namhong, minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation, said on Wednesday.

"I will ask for ASEAN observers to the area in order to control and to ensure a permanent cease fire," Hor Namhong said at Phnom Penh International Airport upon his arrival from the meeting of United Nations Security Council in New York on Cambodian Thai border conflict. He said. "We will wait and see if Thailand accepts this suggestion or not, we will know the real ambition of Thailand. " On Feb. 22, there will be a meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers focusing on Cambodia Thai conflict.

"If Thailand accused Cambodia of invasion and firing first, it should not reject observers to ensure a permanent cease fire," Hor Namhong added.

"From now on, I will ask ASEAN chair or representative to join every meeting between Cambodia and Thailand," he said, adding that "Even though the meeting of Cambodia-Thailand Border Commission, there must be a representative from ASEAN to join too because we have negotiated a lot with Thailand from 2008 to 2010, it was useless, the negotiations reached agreement, but they don' t implement, taking excuse that their parliament do not pass."

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