Wednesday, 31 December 2008

Cambodia, Thailand To Continue Talks On Border Spat -Minister

PHNOM PENH (AFP)--Cambodian foreign minister Hor Namhong said Tuesday his new Thai counterpart had telephoned him to say he will visit soon for talks on a border dispute between the two countries.

Hor Namhong said Thai foreign minister Kasit Piromya, who was appointed earlier this month after a new government came to power, had called to convey his best wishes for the new year.

Soldiers from Cambodia and Thailand clashed on Oct. 15 on disputed land near an 11th century Khmer temple, leaving four people dead.

"He (Kasit) said he has planned to visit Cambodia and he will continue negotiations to find a resolution peacefully and amicably with Cambodia on the border issue," Hor Namhong told reporters.

There was no immediate confirmation from Thailand's foreign ministry.

Thai and Cambodian officials agreed in principle in a meeting earlier this month to reduce soldiers at the disputed border and to form a border task force.

They also plan to meet again in January to resolve their border spat.

But former Thai foreign minister Sompong Amornviwat has said the country's parliament must first approve the agreements before any activity starts.

Hor Namhong admitted that a raging political crisis in Thailand had slowed down the negotiations, but said Cambodia is still showing "patience."

Kasit was one of the most controversial appointments by new Thai premier Abhisit Vejjajiva, because of his role in protests that shuttered Bangkok's airports earlier this month and helped to bring down the previous government.

As a staunch nationalist Kasit, has also criticized the previous government's handling of the crisis with Cambodia.

The Cambodian-Thai border has never been fully demarcated, in part because it is littered with land mines left over from decades of war in Cambodia.

The most recent tensions began in July when the Khmer temple was awarded U.N. World Heritage status, rekindling a long-running disagreement over the ownership of the surrounding land.

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