BANGKOK, July 27 (TNA) - Admittedly facing an uphill task as Thailand is enveloped in a diplomatic and military crisis with neighbouring Cambodia, newly appointed Foreign Minister Tej Bunnag attended a briefing Sunday intended to bring him up to speed for Monday's meeting with his Cambodian counterpart Hor Namhongin in Siem Reap which will focus on the historic Preah Vihear temple and its environs.
Mr. Tej returned from Sweden before dawn Sunday, saying he would attend a briefing at the foreign ministry before having an audience with His Majesty the King at the palace in the evening for a customary swearing-in ceremony before officially taking up his post.
The seasoned diplomat was appointed foreign minister by Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej on Saturday.
So far, he said he had not yet talked to Mr. Samak.
The most urgent task for the new foreign minister is to hold official talks with his Cambodian counterpart Hor Namhong on Monday in the Cambodian province of Siem Reap regarding the 4.6-square-kilometre contested area at Preah Vihear temple, which gained a World Heritage site listing from UNESCO for the Cambodian government earlier this month.
Both countries have reinforced their troops along the common border, especially near the 11th century temple, after the UNESCO listing of the temple as the World Heritage site, causing tensions and depressing trade and tourism between the two countries which are members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Meanwhile, a small group of activists who have been holding a vigil near the ancient temple in a bid to protect Thailand's sovereignty have moved further inside Thailand to allow Thai soldiers to patrol the border more conveniently.
Their decision to move to a Thai government outpost, the Si Sa Ket bush fire control station, came after a woman who was earlier briefly detained by Cambodian soldiers guarding the temple became ill and was sent to a provincial hospital for treatment.
The sick woman along with a man and a Buddhist monk earlier this month crossed the border intending to raise the Thai national flag atop the ancient Hindu edifice. They were captured but were released by the Cambodian troops a few hours later.
Mr. Tej returned from Sweden before dawn Sunday, saying he would attend a briefing at the foreign ministry before having an audience with His Majesty the King at the palace in the evening for a customary swearing-in ceremony before officially taking up his post.
The seasoned diplomat was appointed foreign minister by Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej on Saturday.
So far, he said he had not yet talked to Mr. Samak.
The most urgent task for the new foreign minister is to hold official talks with his Cambodian counterpart Hor Namhong on Monday in the Cambodian province of Siem Reap regarding the 4.6-square-kilometre contested area at Preah Vihear temple, which gained a World Heritage site listing from UNESCO for the Cambodian government earlier this month.
Both countries have reinforced their troops along the common border, especially near the 11th century temple, after the UNESCO listing of the temple as the World Heritage site, causing tensions and depressing trade and tourism between the two countries which are members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Meanwhile, a small group of activists who have been holding a vigil near the ancient temple in a bid to protect Thailand's sovereignty have moved further inside Thailand to allow Thai soldiers to patrol the border more conveniently.
Their decision to move to a Thai government outpost, the Si Sa Ket bush fire control station, came after a woman who was earlier briefly detained by Cambodian soldiers guarding the temple became ill and was sent to a provincial hospital for treatment.
The sick woman along with a man and a Buddhist monk earlier this month crossed the border intending to raise the Thai national flag atop the ancient Hindu edifice. They were captured but were released by the Cambodian troops a few hours later.
No comments:
Post a Comment