SIEM REAP, Cambodia — Cambodia and Thailand struggled Monday to settle a standoff over disputed border territory near an ancient Hindu temple that prompted both countries to deploy thousands of troops to the area.
Foreign ministers from the two Southeast Asian countries expressed optimism that their talks would produce a breakthrough in the dispute.
But midway through the talks Monday in Siem Reap, the mood was tense and progress remained elusive, officials said.
"We have discussed many points but we have not reached a solution yet," Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong told reporters.
A first round of talks July 21 foundered over what maps should be used to demarcate the border. It prompted Cambodia to request a meeting of the United Nations Security Council before agreeing to the second round of talks with Thailand.
The dispute over 4.6 square kilometres of land near the 11th century Preah Vihear temple escalated earlier this month when UNESCO approved Cambodia's application to have the complex named a World Heritage Site.
Thailand sent troops to the border July 15 after anti-government demonstrators criticized Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej's government for supporting Cambodia's application to UNESCO. Cambodia responded with its own deployment.
Hor Namhong said Friday he was hopeful the new talks would end the impasse, but also warned his government would pursue the case at the UN if negotiations failed again.
A French map demarcating the border generally favours Cambodia, and Thailand rejects it, saying it was drawn up by a colonial power to its own advantage.
Thailand relies on a map drawn up later with American technical assistance, but accepts a ruling by the International Court of Justice that awarded the disputed temple to Cambodia in 1962.
Foreign ministers from the two Southeast Asian countries expressed optimism that their talks would produce a breakthrough in the dispute.
But midway through the talks Monday in Siem Reap, the mood was tense and progress remained elusive, officials said.
"We have discussed many points but we have not reached a solution yet," Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong told reporters.
A first round of talks July 21 foundered over what maps should be used to demarcate the border. It prompted Cambodia to request a meeting of the United Nations Security Council before agreeing to the second round of talks with Thailand.
The dispute over 4.6 square kilometres of land near the 11th century Preah Vihear temple escalated earlier this month when UNESCO approved Cambodia's application to have the complex named a World Heritage Site.
Thailand sent troops to the border July 15 after anti-government demonstrators criticized Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej's government for supporting Cambodia's application to UNESCO. Cambodia responded with its own deployment.
Hor Namhong said Friday he was hopeful the new talks would end the impasse, but also warned his government would pursue the case at the UN if negotiations failed again.
A French map demarcating the border generally favours Cambodia, and Thailand rejects it, saying it was drawn up by a colonial power to its own advantage.
Thailand relies on a map drawn up later with American technical assistance, but accepts a ruling by the International Court of Justice that awarded the disputed temple to Cambodia in 1962.
3 comments:
What the Thai is saying about the 1907 map doesn't make any sense.
Of course that when two countries are delimiting their borders each part want to gains as much territory as possible.
So now you want a new map infringe on Cambodia territory, do you know that we don't recognize such map smart ass?
So bring your new map along Cambodia is heading back to the UN.
"Kuwait became a protectorate of the British Empire in 1899"
= Today Kuwait is still country even though Saddam Hussien try to undo the past history of Kuwait!
I just wish the Thai leaders wouldn't go as far as to entertaining such idea about Cambodia like Kuwait! No can do!
http://www.britishempire.co.uk/maproom/kuwait.htm
thailand is so one-sided in their view by continue to violate the treaty of 1907 and the icj verdict which used the 1907, not the american assisted map that thailand is claiming. this is why cambodia is having a problem with them. let me ask them a dumb quesiton: who is going to win in the court of law, thailand's violation of the international treaty and law or cambodia's upholding of the international law? let's have the icj make their decision again based on the international law, not whatever thailand wants to do.
the problem i see is that thailand often forget about the national interest of cambodia as they only think about their own interest without regards to the international law. the other question cambodia can ask thailand is: did their gov't sign to ratify the treaty of 1907 into law. well, we all know they they did; that's why it was called the treaty of 1907. i say, cambodia ought to go straight to the UN council to settle this nonsense thai problem once and for all. it is useless to keep talking with thailand as they go in circle with their illegal demand. just take the fact that they tried to block the listing of the preah vihear world heritage site and failed. and now they still wanted to negotiate with cambodia after the damage was done already? what a moron they really are!!!! they should come out to say upfront with cambodia and the UN council that, yes, thailand want to steal preah vihear from cambodia, instead of play game with words around this very issue. it is not yours!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! god bless cambodia.
Post a Comment