via CAAI
March 05, 2011
Thailand has principally agreed on terms of reference (TOR) on observation related to its dispute with Cambodia over border issue, an Indonesian minister said here on Friday.
Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa told reporters that as observing party in the issue, Indonesia has sent the terms of reference that was responded positively by Cambodia.
"Cambodia has agreed and yesterday I heard Thailand has principally agreed but details will be submitted in the near term, " he said.
Natalegawa stressed that the part should be immediately completed as the momentum must be maintained.
"(The momentum of) decision by both foreign ministers and both countries on Feb. 22 should be maintained and we must move fast," he said.
According to him, Indonesia has established two teams consisting of 30 officials to Thailand and Cambodia.
He said that it is expected that there will be a review on the observation every three months.
"But, related to how long they must stay there, we must decide together as there should be agreement from related countries. This is important as we don't want to enforce peace between them. We are just observers," he said.
Another thing, he said, is security of the observers.
"They are unarmed. So, there must be a safety guarantee," he said.
Natalegawa added that all political processes must be informed to other ASEAN countries.
Thailand and Cambodia have the border conflict just a week after Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple was enlisted as World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008, since then periodic clashes between both sides' troops happened, resulted in the deaths of troops on both sides.
The latest clashes, on Feb. 4-7, 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.
Source: Xinhua
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