Thanida Tansubhapol
Bangkok Post
SINGAPORE : Asean member states have expressed concern over the increasingly tense spat between Thailand and Cambodia.
Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said it was unnecessary for him to explain the matter to the Asean foreign ministers who voiced their worries as they already knew the details of the dispute.
Mr Kasit did not dismiss the possibility Asean ministers may choose to discuss the matter when they meet tomorrow.
"Certainly, some countries may offer help to talk (with Cambodia) because we are in the same family. When the problem occurs, the relatives in the family will normally help one another," he said.
Mr Kasit returned to Singapore yesterday after having rushed back to Bangkok on Thursday night to help Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva deal with the rapidly deteriorating ties with Cambodia.
Diplomatic ties between the two countries plunged further when Cambodia expelled the first secretary of the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh. Bangkok retaliated by responding in kind.
The incident came just days after Thailand recalled its ambassador from Phnom Penh in protest against the Cambodian government's refusal to extradite Thaksin to Thailand. Cambodia responded by ordering its envoy to Thailand home.
Thailand previously suspended cooperation agreements to protest Prime Minister Hun Sen's decision to appoint Thaksin as an economic adviser.
Thaksin arrived in Cambodia on Tuesday and gave a lecture on economic affairs to 300 Cambodian officials and businessmen on Thursday.
Mr Kasit urged the Thai people to understand the government's diplomatic actions against Cambodia.
The measures were not intended to harm the Cambodian people, he said.
The minister insisted Thailand had not started the problem.
Some Asean leaders might push for talks with Cambodia when they gather to meet with US President Barack Obama tomorrow evening, he said. Hun Sen is scheduled to arrive in Singapore today.
Mr Kasit said the Cambodian-Thai conflict would not affect the US-Asean summit.
Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said it was unnecessary for him to explain the matter to the Asean foreign ministers who voiced their worries as they already knew the details of the dispute.
Mr Kasit did not dismiss the possibility Asean ministers may choose to discuss the matter when they meet tomorrow.
"Certainly, some countries may offer help to talk (with Cambodia) because we are in the same family. When the problem occurs, the relatives in the family will normally help one another," he said.
Mr Kasit returned to Singapore yesterday after having rushed back to Bangkok on Thursday night to help Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva deal with the rapidly deteriorating ties with Cambodia.
Diplomatic ties between the two countries plunged further when Cambodia expelled the first secretary of the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh. Bangkok retaliated by responding in kind.
The incident came just days after Thailand recalled its ambassador from Phnom Penh in protest against the Cambodian government's refusal to extradite Thaksin to Thailand. Cambodia responded by ordering its envoy to Thailand home.
Thailand previously suspended cooperation agreements to protest Prime Minister Hun Sen's decision to appoint Thaksin as an economic adviser.
Thaksin arrived in Cambodia on Tuesday and gave a lecture on economic affairs to 300 Cambodian officials and businessmen on Thursday.
Mr Kasit urged the Thai people to understand the government's diplomatic actions against Cambodia.
The measures were not intended to harm the Cambodian people, he said.
The minister insisted Thailand had not started the problem.
Some Asean leaders might push for talks with Cambodia when they gather to meet with US President Barack Obama tomorrow evening, he said. Hun Sen is scheduled to arrive in Singapore today.
Mr Kasit said the Cambodian-Thai conflict would not affect the US-Asean summit.
2 comments:
On November 25, 2009 an auspicious date to remember!!!!
Thailand and Cambodia should together celebrate the coming 84th birthday of Princess Bejaratana Rajasuda Sirisobhabannavadi of Thailand (Thai: สมเด็จพระเจ้าภคินีเธอ เจ้าฟ้าเพชรรัตนราชสุดา สิริโสภาพัณณวดี) (born 24 November 1925) is the only daughter of late HM King Vajiravudh of Thailand and Queen Suvadhana (who was of Khmer descent). She is a first cousin of current HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej and third cousin of HM King Sihanouk of Cambodia. She is officially styled Her Royal Highness Princess Bejaratana.
SEAN is useless.
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