Cambodia welcomes Thai intention to ask observers from Indonesia to border disputed area
Monday, 21 February 2011 08:58 administrator
PHNOM PENH, Feb. 21-- Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said Monday that Cambodia welcomes Thailand's intention to ask Indonesia to send observers to embed in Thai side's troops in the border conflict near the 11th century Preah Vihear temple.
"Now Thailand agreed with the observers, it's the best, so it will be positive step in the meeting in Jakarta on Feb. 22," he told reporters on Monday morning at Phnom Penh International Airport before departing for the foreign ministers' meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Jakarta, Indonesia to hear of the border dispute between Cambodia and Thailand.
"This is the result of our complaint to the United Nations Security Council because we had asked to the UNSC for observers to the disputed border areas to ensure cease-fire and to observe who the real invader is-- as both sides always put the blame on each other," he added.
Hor Namhong's remark was made following a Sunday's announcement by Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya that Thailand planned to invite Indonesia to send observers to "embed" with Thai soldiers at the border where Thai troops clashed with Cambodian troops.
"We would ask Indonesia, chair of ASEAN, to dispatch observers to embed with the Thai troops at the border where the Thai troops clashed with Cambodian troops. The observers will be our witness that we respect the ceasefire," The Nation quoted Kasit as saying on Sunday.
During the upcoming ASEAN foreign ministers'meeting, Cambodia will ask Thailand to sign a permanent ceasefire under the witness of ASEAN chair or representative and it will also ask ASEAN observers to the disputed areas to ensure the permanent ceasefire.
"Cambodia has a strong confidence on ASEAN in meditating the conflict," he said.
Cambodia and Thailand have had border conflict just a week after Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple was enlisted as World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008.
The conflict is due to Thai claim of the ownership of 1.8 square miles (4.6 sq km) of scrub next to the temple, triggering a military build-up along the border, and periodic clashes between Cambodian and Thai soldiers have resulted in the deaths of troops on both sides. The latest clashes on Feb. 4-7, unleashed a barrage of artillery shells on both sides of the border, had killed and wounded many soldiers and citizens of both sides, and caused tens of thousands of the two countries' villagers nearby the disputed areas fleeing for safe shelters.
ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. (Xinhua/sp)
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China to help Cambodia boost social, economic development
Monday, 21 February 2011 08:41 (Xinhua)
PHNOM PENH, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia and China on Monday signed six agreements on bilateral cooperation, aiming at assisting Cambodia to develop its economy and to alleviate poverty, said officials.
The agreements were signed here during the 2nd China-Cambodia Strategic Economic Dialogue, co-chaired by Anu Porn Moniroth, secretary of state of the Ministry of Economy and Finance of Cambodia and Fu Ziying, visiting Chinese vice commerce minister.
Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Economy and Finance Keat Chhon and Chinese ambassador to Cambodia Pan Guangxue attended the signing ceremony.
The grant and loan agreements included a grant to Cambodian Ministry of Economy and Finance; a donation of air-conditioners and desktop computers to the Senate; a project to dispatch Chinese experts to study the feasibility of the construction of agricultural laboratory building in Cambodia; a loan agreement for the construction of a 22 kilovolt electricity transmission line in the length of 1.9 km in the provinces of Kampong Speu, Preah Sihanouk, Prey Veng and Kampong Cham.
Moreover, the construction contract of enlargement of the national road No. 6A (in the length of 40 km) to four lanes under a soft loan from China, and the consultant contract on the enlargement of the national road No. 6A were also signed.
Aun Porn Moniroth expressed profound thanks to China for its timely and unconditional financial and technical assistances to Cambodia.
"As the world was affected by the global financial crisis, China had still provided its assistance to Cambodia," he said, adding"this has helped Cambodia to prevent and overcome the crisis successfully."
"Chinese aid to Cambodia is very essential to develop the economy and alleviate poverty,"he added.
Fu Ziying said that Cambodia is a good neighbor of China and pledged to continue supporting Cambodia in its development of economy.
"China and Cambodia are willing to help each other,"he said, adding "in the future, China can be a big market for Cambodian products."
"We want closer cooperation with Cambodia on agriculture and mining as well as other sectors,"he said.
Fu Ziying is scheduled to pay courtesy call on Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Monday afternoon.
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