Condition conducive needed in Thailand-Cambodia clash reconciliation: Indonesian minister

http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/

via CAAI

May 06, 2011

A condition conducive is needed before deployment of observer team from Indonesia to the border of Thailand and Cambodia, as a part of the efforts to solve the strife between both countries, an Indonesian minister said on Friday.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa told reporters that he has met Foreign Minister and Vice Prime Minister of Cambodia Hor Namhong and Foreign Minister of Thailand Kasit Piromya to find solutions of the conflict. Natalegawa said that Thailand and Cambodia have agreed terms of reference (TOR) of the observation team. "One positive thing is that the TOR of the observer team is agreed by both countries. Cambodia has officially agreed by sending a diplomatic note while Thailand agreed on principle but has not yet sent any note," said Natalegawa. In other words, he said, as far as TOR concern, it is done deal.

What remains now, he said, is how we operate the assignment of the Indonesian observer team on the ground, and key word is to create condition conducive for the assign of the Indonesian observer team. "You are aware, of course, through previous communication that Thailand has its own view about what needs to happen before such observer team is sent. Cambodia has its own view as well. Thailand has submitted a kind of condition before the deployment, which is a withdrawal of Cambodian troops from certain area," he said.

He added that in the next one or two days, the foreign ministers will sit together, trying to define what kind of condition conducive before the deployment.

On top of that, he said, both Thailand and Cambodia recognize that political process, diplomatic negotiation must continue.

"I hope that general border commission (GBC) can reconvene sooner rather than later. Because it is important to have political process kept alive and continued. The risk of delay of is very rear. We have seen in the past two weeks what has been happening in the border area between the two countries. They have exchanged artillery. Delay is not neutral. Delay is not without impact. Delay means greater risk. This is what we wish to avoid," he said.

Source: Xinhua