The Nation
Foreign Minister Tej Bunnag expects a positive outcome from his talks today with his Cambodian counterpart in Siem Reap on the military stand-off at Preah Vihear.
Tej, a retired career diplomat and a member of the Privy Council who was appointed foreign minister two days ago, pledged to perform to the best of his ability as he was sworn in by His Majesty the King yesterday afternoon. He replaced Noppadon Pattama, who quit over the controversy of listing Preah Vihear as a World Heritage site.
Tej will lead a Thai delegation in a crucial meeting with Hor Nam Hong, the Cambodian minister, this morning and will return to Bangkok tonight.
"I expect a positive outcome from the ministerial meeting. The issue is very complicated but based on the good long-standing relations between the two countries, I believe we should be able to work the problem out," Tej said yesterday.
Former prime minister Anand Panyarachun said yesterday that he believed Tej would help improve the government's image, in addition to contributing his expertise in international relations.
Tej's appointment came at a critical juncture as Hun Sen, the Cambodian prime minister, looked set to win another majority in the country's general election. Tej yesterday chaired a meeting of senior Foreign Ministry officials, including permanent secretary Virasakdi Futrakul and spokesman Tharit Jarungwat, on the deteriorating relations with Cambodia.
Tharit quoted the new minister as saying the dispute over the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple was complicated.
"If Cambodia shows sincerity and is open-minded in the talks by not setting any conditions, I believe the negotiations on Monday will go well. The two countries have excellent relations, which will help the talks," Tharit quoted Tej as saying.
However, talks on this sensitive issue will certainly take time and could not be settled in a single meeting.
Tharit stressed the Thai military was stationed in Thai territory only.
He said Thailand was sincere in resolving the conflict as evidenced by its willingness to keep the problem between the two countries at a bilateral level in 2004 when the Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh was burned down during an anti-Thai riot.
Asked whether the talks today would produce a conclusion, Tharit said he expected conclusions at a certain level.
Asked whether Thailand was concerned about Cambodia's tactic of trying to woo international support for its cause, Tharit said Bangkok was ready to clarify matters to the international community and wanted to keep the conflict at a bilateral level.
Meanwhile, Thai Ambassador to Phnom Penh Weerapan Watcharathit said Cambodia had arranged the ministerial meeting at the Angkor Palace Spa and Resort in Siem Reap.
The ambassador was confident there would not be any protest against Thailand in the province because organisers of protests in Cambodia would have to seek permission from the government and none had done so.
Tej, a retired career diplomat and a member of the Privy Council who was appointed foreign minister two days ago, pledged to perform to the best of his ability as he was sworn in by His Majesty the King yesterday afternoon. He replaced Noppadon Pattama, who quit over the controversy of listing Preah Vihear as a World Heritage site.
Tej will lead a Thai delegation in a crucial meeting with Hor Nam Hong, the Cambodian minister, this morning and will return to Bangkok tonight.
"I expect a positive outcome from the ministerial meeting. The issue is very complicated but based on the good long-standing relations between the two countries, I believe we should be able to work the problem out," Tej said yesterday.
Former prime minister Anand Panyarachun said yesterday that he believed Tej would help improve the government's image, in addition to contributing his expertise in international relations.
Tej's appointment came at a critical juncture as Hun Sen, the Cambodian prime minister, looked set to win another majority in the country's general election. Tej yesterday chaired a meeting of senior Foreign Ministry officials, including permanent secretary Virasakdi Futrakul and spokesman Tharit Jarungwat, on the deteriorating relations with Cambodia.
Tharit quoted the new minister as saying the dispute over the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple was complicated.
"If Cambodia shows sincerity and is open-minded in the talks by not setting any conditions, I believe the negotiations on Monday will go well. The two countries have excellent relations, which will help the talks," Tharit quoted Tej as saying.
However, talks on this sensitive issue will certainly take time and could not be settled in a single meeting.
Tharit stressed the Thai military was stationed in Thai territory only.
He said Thailand was sincere in resolving the conflict as evidenced by its willingness to keep the problem between the two countries at a bilateral level in 2004 when the Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh was burned down during an anti-Thai riot.
Asked whether the talks today would produce a conclusion, Tharit said he expected conclusions at a certain level.
Asked whether Thailand was concerned about Cambodia's tactic of trying to woo international support for its cause, Tharit said Bangkok was ready to clarify matters to the international community and wanted to keep the conflict at a bilateral level.
Meanwhile, Thai Ambassador to Phnom Penh Weerapan Watcharathit said Cambodia had arranged the ministerial meeting at the Angkor Palace Spa and Resort in Siem Reap.
The ambassador was confident there would not be any protest against Thailand in the province because organisers of protests in Cambodia would have to seek permission from the government and none had done so.
6 comments:
Crazy, during in the talk, every sides set conditions. If there is no condition, why need to held talk?
Tharit, go to school again
Will it be a "BLESS" or "CURSE" for Cambodia? The answer will be drawn from all of these events:
1. The negotiation today with Thailand. See RGC will give any concession or sign any supplemental treaty that cede land to Thai or provide any invisible interest under the table to Thai for Prah Vihear matter.
2. The long-awaited anti-corruption law and the promise to fight with the worldwide negative images-as state with strong impunity, partisan and very partial wild-like system of the government and the effectiveness and political will to implement the imigration law-will occur or not?Speed like turtoise speed????? Can this newly elected government fufill their promises??????
May God Blesses Cambodia
The Siam is trying to restore their image through their news paper.
They try to paint themselves as the good guys.
They should withdraw their troops unconditionally, and the memorandum no value whatsoever for the ICJ.
Clown alibi the ICJ don't have the time for that.
Hun Sen better do his job right, because the KR living in Preah Vihear will not take the lost of their territory as an answer.
If there is curse,There is blessing.I believe this 21 Century is blessing for all.
Khmer Soldiers are more experienced in warfare than Siams.. But Civil warefare ...
Khmer leaders are more Fragile/// I am affraid if after Election Cambodia will offer all Siam Proposal to make themselves in power for more Mandate(5 years)... Siams have experiences in Peace as of Siam country never faced with waars/Civil wars and know well how to buy Cambodians Leaders"s Spirits etc..the example is in the past the removal of Mr. Major Chea Sophara from PP Major Post was also connected with what Chea Sophara developed Road to Preah Vihear....this was under the ORDER OF TAKSHIN...
I am afraid if our Government become quiet in this Dispute Case due to money/Dollars spend by Siam Tycoon... as in Long Vek Era " ... Prak Duong( then Thai Currency Coins)...NOW Dollars.."
Our Human resource /Nationalist Moral is Limited and unstable...
Khmers lost Moral due to internal Disputes.. Khmer with Khmer Polit. Party with Parties as in election times A Domonant Party used any means and Resources to win election esdpecially those resources/Finance are fron Government/National Budget and when war happens they Collect money asd distributed by Khmer People...
The experience has implied from The Borders Issues with Vietnam..
Siams had no war.. always are in Peace due to Siam Leaders, Kings are so clever... and patrioic..they can avoid all wars of Colony(French) and Imperialism(US)and Communism(China), when Red Thais happened.. Siams negotiated with nChina to Evict all Red Thais from China returning to Siam country and supported those Red Thais to live peacefully and prosperity by offer them pieces of Land and Finance to live as other Siams...
In French Time/Colony, Siam King WENT TO MOSCOW TO MEET RUSSIAN TSAR/LEADERS THEY HAD PHOTOGRAPHES WITH RUSSIANS TSARS BUT NEGOTATION FOR SUPPORT WITH NO RESULT... SIAMS SHOWED PICYRURES TO THEIR FOREGN ENNEMIES THE ENNEMIES SCARED THAT SIAM KING HAD CONTACT WITH RUSSIANS...AND MAY BE SUPPORTED BY RUSSIANS..." ..
Khmer Leaders are far different from Siams....
Excellency Bandit Achar Knoy
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