The Associated Press
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia: Cambodian and Thai foreign ministers resumed talks Monday on a disputed border area that recently erupted into a brief military clash.
Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong met visiting Foreign Minister Sompong Amornwiwat in the first high-level encounter since the Oct. 3 cross-border gunfight that wounded one Cambodian and two Thai soldiers.
The shooting occurred in a disputed border area several miles (kilometers) west of Cambodia's ancient Preah Vihear temple.
Both sides claimed the other fired first and blamed each other for being on the wrong side of the border.
The dispute is the most important issue in the ministers' talks, said Koy Kuong, Cambodian foreign ministry spokesman. He did say what other issues are to be discussed.
The one-day visit was a courtesy call by Sompong as new Thai foreign minister, said Tharit Charungvat, the ministry's spokesman.
It was not immediately clear whether Sompong's meeting with Hor Namhong would produce any breakthrough in the dispute, which has been simmering since mid-July.
Tensions flared July 15 after UNESCO, the U.N. agency, approved Cambodia's bid to have the Preah Vihear temple named a World Heritage Site. The temple belongs to Cambodia but is surrounded by disputed territory. Both sides deployed troops to the border.
Several rounds of talks between the two government have made little progress in resolving the dispute.
Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong met visiting Foreign Minister Sompong Amornwiwat in the first high-level encounter since the Oct. 3 cross-border gunfight that wounded one Cambodian and two Thai soldiers.
The shooting occurred in a disputed border area several miles (kilometers) west of Cambodia's ancient Preah Vihear temple.
Both sides claimed the other fired first and blamed each other for being on the wrong side of the border.
The dispute is the most important issue in the ministers' talks, said Koy Kuong, Cambodian foreign ministry spokesman. He did say what other issues are to be discussed.
The one-day visit was a courtesy call by Sompong as new Thai foreign minister, said Tharit Charungvat, the ministry's spokesman.
It was not immediately clear whether Sompong's meeting with Hor Namhong would produce any breakthrough in the dispute, which has been simmering since mid-July.
Tensions flared July 15 after UNESCO, the U.N. agency, approved Cambodia's bid to have the Preah Vihear temple named a World Heritage Site. The temple belongs to Cambodia but is surrounded by disputed territory. Both sides deployed troops to the border.
Several rounds of talks between the two government have made little progress in resolving the dispute.
1 comment:
Ok let me make the report for them:
-Both side agree to keep patience and maximum restraint..
- Joint border commitee will work on that issues..
- The discussion produce fruitful result....
In reality:
- Thai still in Cambodia land
- Cambodia keep saying that they will keep patience and will complain to ICJ whenever appropriated (100 years more?)
So in total: zero result....
How to make negotiation workable?
Only Face to Face talk with Anupong Paochenda...He is the biggest guy in Thailand now..Not the PM, FM, or King...
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