By Ian Ransom
BEIJING (Reuters) - Thailand and Cambodia struck a reconciliatory note on Friday, putting recent clashes along their disputed border behind them and agreeing to breathe fresh life into long-standing efforts to settle the problem for good.
The leaders of the two Southeast Asian governments met on the sidelines of an Asia-Europe summit in Beijing focused on the global economic crisis.
"We are not just neighbors, we are very good friends indeed," Thai Foreign Minister Sompong Amornwiwat told reporters after the meeting between Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat and his Cambodian counterpart, Hun Sen.
"His Excellency Hun Sen said the incident that already happened is not the kind that both countries want. It happened instantly. That was uncontrollable at the time. But when things come to this point, the two sides have to advise our troops not to have confrontation any longer."
A Thai soldier died on Tuesday from wounds sustained in the latest flare-up on October 15 near the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple, which is claimed by both countries. Three Cambodian soldiers were also killed.
The confrontation was the most serious border clash in years, although tensions have now eased.
Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong told reporters the two sides had agreed to use "existing mechanisms" to solve the border problem.
He pointed to talks this week between military commanders from the two countries to demonstrate progress, adding: "Already, we have had very good results over this question."
MILITARY MEETING
The senior military officials met in Siem Reap, site of Cambodia's Angkor temple, to discuss the fighting and other border issues. Customs and immigration officials from the two sides also attended.
In a statement on Friday after that meeting ended, the Thai military said it had achieved its objectives, namely "to develop a good understanding and relationship between the armed forces with a view to easing tension in the border areas."
It said the meeting had discussed how to deal with the narcotics trade, among other things.
Under the Thai constitution, any agreement reached by the government with another state needs parliamentary approval. The army statement said October 28 had been earmarked for parliament to debate border matters, a date mentioned by Sompong in Beijing.
Sompong also said the two countries had to work together to demine the border area.
Cambodia's foreign ministry urged Thailand to stick to existing deals on the border issue, including agreement on where certain parts of the frontier lie and a framework to demarcate the rest of border.
"Cambodia remains fully committed to not encroaching on any inch of Thai territory and would be very pleased if Thailand responded with the same commitment," it said in a statement sent to Thailand's foreign ministry and seen by Reuters on Friday.
The hilltop Preah Vihear temple has stirred nationalist passions in both countries for generations.
The International Court of Justice awarded it to Cambodia in 1962, a ruling that has rankled in Thailand ever since. It did not determine the ownership of 1.8 square miles (4.6 sq km) of scrub next to the Hindu ruins.
(Reporting by Ian Ransom in Beijing and Ek Madra in Phnom Penh; Writing by Alan Raybould; Editing by Jeremy Laurence)
The leaders of the two Southeast Asian governments met on the sidelines of an Asia-Europe summit in Beijing focused on the global economic crisis.
"We are not just neighbors, we are very good friends indeed," Thai Foreign Minister Sompong Amornwiwat told reporters after the meeting between Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat and his Cambodian counterpart, Hun Sen.
"His Excellency Hun Sen said the incident that already happened is not the kind that both countries want. It happened instantly. That was uncontrollable at the time. But when things come to this point, the two sides have to advise our troops not to have confrontation any longer."
A Thai soldier died on Tuesday from wounds sustained in the latest flare-up on October 15 near the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple, which is claimed by both countries. Three Cambodian soldiers were also killed.
The confrontation was the most serious border clash in years, although tensions have now eased.
Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong told reporters the two sides had agreed to use "existing mechanisms" to solve the border problem.
He pointed to talks this week between military commanders from the two countries to demonstrate progress, adding: "Already, we have had very good results over this question."
MILITARY MEETING
The senior military officials met in Siem Reap, site of Cambodia's Angkor temple, to discuss the fighting and other border issues. Customs and immigration officials from the two sides also attended.
In a statement on Friday after that meeting ended, the Thai military said it had achieved its objectives, namely "to develop a good understanding and relationship between the armed forces with a view to easing tension in the border areas."
It said the meeting had discussed how to deal with the narcotics trade, among other things.
Under the Thai constitution, any agreement reached by the government with another state needs parliamentary approval. The army statement said October 28 had been earmarked for parliament to debate border matters, a date mentioned by Sompong in Beijing.
Sompong also said the two countries had to work together to demine the border area.
Cambodia's foreign ministry urged Thailand to stick to existing deals on the border issue, including agreement on where certain parts of the frontier lie and a framework to demarcate the rest of border.
"Cambodia remains fully committed to not encroaching on any inch of Thai territory and would be very pleased if Thailand responded with the same commitment," it said in a statement sent to Thailand's foreign ministry and seen by Reuters on Friday.
The hilltop Preah Vihear temple has stirred nationalist passions in both countries for generations.
The International Court of Justice awarded it to Cambodia in 1962, a ruling that has rankled in Thailand ever since. It did not determine the ownership of 1.8 square miles (4.6 sq km) of scrub next to the Hindu ruins.
(Reporting by Ian Ransom in Beijing and Ek Madra in Phnom Penh; Writing by Alan Raybould; Editing by Jeremy Laurence)
9 comments:
It is good to hear that. I am opening my eyes to closely watch will Thailand commit the same as Cambodia did? Will Thailand maintain the status of Land of Smile? At this moment, Thailand is the Land of Provocations, Tears and Viloences.
I wonder that chief of Thai army is agree with Sampong and Somchay or not. If they do not agree, talk with Thai govermnet now is useless. Soon, army will coup the country.
The monkeys in Cambodia don't belong on the Mountain. They need to get their obese arse back to where they came from, and problem solves.
5:57 PM
You should know where you were from, go back to Nan Chao. it was your place of bith
5:57 PM is broadcasting from Pat Pong street, Bangkok. Give us back Si Saket and Surin, you thief.
Hey, that is up to the Khmer in Thailand. Meanwhile, get your stinky arse out of the mountain. You don't have nothing there.
5:57 pm
It seems this person have little or no knowledge of the history. The person probably have very limited education in a rural area or long lost village in Siam. From the statement the person, it is he or she or both is the MONKEY! Your day is counted you thieve. Thailand is a nation of bandit or thug.
Khmer Surin
"existing mechanisms"?
What is existing mechanisms? How come Cambodian and Thai leaders didn't use these so called existing mechanisms?
Well! The fact is there are no such thing as existing mechanisms and that is why the Cambodia-Thailand border conflict led to arm confrontation! Sorry to say that bilateral talk is not one of the existing mechanisms because Cambodian leaders can talk forever while Thai leaders refuse to listen!
How can we deal with the gay that army want to kick his out? Go to the International law institution for justice or prepair for war! The Tahai are not a nation now, it is craesy and do not know what it want and where is it head, where is it ass hole!
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