Cambodia, Thailand Agree on Proposed Package Solution

via CAAI

AKP Phnom Penh, May 10, 2011 – The foreign ministers of Cambodia and Thailand have agreed on a package solution proposed by Indonesian Foreign Minister H.E. Marty Natalegawa to settle the border conflict between the two countries in their meeting on May 9 in Jakarta.

According to the package solution, once Thailand approved the terms of reference (TOR) for the deployment of Indonesian Observer Team (IOT) to the disputed border area, the announcement of the meetings of General Border Committee (GBC) and Cambodia-Thailand Joint Commission on Demarcation of Land Boundary (JBC) will be made, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister H.E. Hor Namhong told Cambodian reporters after the trilateral meeting.

Five days after Thailand sent the letter of acceptance of TOR to the Indonesian foreign minister, Indonesia will send a Survey Team of IOT to the armed clashes border area, he said, adding that meanwhile GBC and JBC will resume their meetings.

Ten days after Thailand sent the letter of acceptance of TOR, Indonesia will send all IOT to the border (Full Assignment), and at the same time there will be an assessment of the GBC and JBC meetings’ results, he stressed.

All the three foreign ministers agreed to seek their respective governments’ approval of the package solution as soon as possible, said H.E. Hor Namhong, who also asked his Thai counterpart to do his best to push the Thai cabinet to approve the TOR in its meeting on May 10.

On the occasion, the Cambodian foreign minister reiterated Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen’s stance to divide the issue into two aspects – the GBC and JBC meetings concerning Preah Vihear Temple area must be held in the presence of Indonesia, while those concerning other areas such as Ta Moan and Ta Krabey Temples can be done bilaterally in Cambodia or in Thailand.

During the trilateral talks, the Thai side did not raise its condition over the withdrawal of Cambodian troops from the disputed 4.6-square-kilometer border area before receiving the observers.

The talks followed those on May 8 between Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on the sidelines of the 18th ASEAN Summit held on May 7-8 in Jakarta, Indonesia.

By SOKMOM Nimul

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Cambodia-Vietnam Investment Agreement on Organic Farm in Siem Reap Province

AKP Phnom Penh, May 10, 2011 – The APSARA Authority of Cambodia and a Vietnamese company reached last week an investment agreement to set up an organic farm in Siem Reap province.

Some US$561,000, of them US$336,000 from the APSARA Authority and US$225,000 from Saigon Investment Construction, will be used to grow organic vegetable on 100 ha for the first step in Ron Ta Ek commune, Banteay Srey district, some 30 kilometers northeast of Siem Reap provincial town, according to H.E. Sou Phirin, Siem Reap governor.

H.E. Bun Narith, General Director of APSARA Authority, highly valued this organic vegetable farm project, which he said will help improve the living condition of local and provincial people.

Article in Khmer by HANG Seak

Article in English by KHAN Sophirom