BANGKOK, Aug 19 (MCOT online News) - Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said Thursday that the Preah Vihear dispute cannot be raised at a multilateral level without the mutual consent of the two neighbouring countries, Thailand and Cambodia.
The Thai deputy premier made the remarks following the Cambodian move seeking intervention by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to help resolve the border spat to avoid any large scale armed conflict.
Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Nguyen Phuong Nga was quoted as saying in a statement released on Tuesday that "As ASEAN chair, Vietnam is actively consulting other ASEAN countries about the proposal that ASEAN mediates over the Preah Vihear dispute."
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva stood firm on Wednesday the border dispute could be solved at the bilateral level and that Thailand would affirm its stance if asked by ASEAN.
Mr Abhisit added that whether formal bilateral talks will be held or not depends on the situation and that Thailand adheres to the principle of a negotiation framework and process.
As Cambodia expressed dissatisfaction after learning that the agenda of the Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) was not raised at the current session of the Thai Parliament, Mr Suthep said a country should respect other country's internal affairs.
As Thailand would not intervene in Cambodia's domestic affairs, therefore it was not right for Cambodia to come to a boil over the case which is, he emphasised, Thailand's internal affair.
The Thai deputy premier added that the border dispute on contested 4.6 sq km area of land near the cliff-top temple by Thailand and Cambodia is a big issue and that time to resolve the problem is needed.
"If Cambodia wants to raise the dispute at the multilateral level, this cannot be done as mutual consent from both concerned countries is needed," said Mr Suthep. "I think that the dispute can be solved through talks between both countries."
Following local media reports quoted the ASEAN chief as saying he expected Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen to to meet and discuss the dispute on the sidelines of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), scheduled to be held in Brussels in October, Mr Suthep said he has no knowledge about the matter.
Mr Suthep however said Mr Surin might have directly contacted the Thai premier for the talks.
The International Court of Justice in 1962 ruled that the 11th century temple belongs to Cambodia. UNESCO accorded its status as a World Heritage site in 2008 after Cambodia applied for the privilege while the border dispute remains unresolved.
Thailand made it clear that the country opposed an approval of the World Heritage Committee (WHC) on Phnom Penh's management plan on the temple, saying the plan includes the disputed area by the two countries. The WHC then on July 29 deferred the decision on the plan until it meets next year in Bahrain.
The Thai deputy premier made the remarks following the Cambodian move seeking intervention by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to help resolve the border spat to avoid any large scale armed conflict.
Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Nguyen Phuong Nga was quoted as saying in a statement released on Tuesday that "As ASEAN chair, Vietnam is actively consulting other ASEAN countries about the proposal that ASEAN mediates over the Preah Vihear dispute."
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva stood firm on Wednesday the border dispute could be solved at the bilateral level and that Thailand would affirm its stance if asked by ASEAN.
Mr Abhisit added that whether formal bilateral talks will be held or not depends on the situation and that Thailand adheres to the principle of a negotiation framework and process.
As Cambodia expressed dissatisfaction after learning that the agenda of the Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) was not raised at the current session of the Thai Parliament, Mr Suthep said a country should respect other country's internal affairs.
As Thailand would not intervene in Cambodia's domestic affairs, therefore it was not right for Cambodia to come to a boil over the case which is, he emphasised, Thailand's internal affair.
The Thai deputy premier added that the border dispute on contested 4.6 sq km area of land near the cliff-top temple by Thailand and Cambodia is a big issue and that time to resolve the problem is needed.
"If Cambodia wants to raise the dispute at the multilateral level, this cannot be done as mutual consent from both concerned countries is needed," said Mr Suthep. "I think that the dispute can be solved through talks between both countries."
Following local media reports quoted the ASEAN chief as saying he expected Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen to to meet and discuss the dispute on the sidelines of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), scheduled to be held in Brussels in October, Mr Suthep said he has no knowledge about the matter.
Mr Suthep however said Mr Surin might have directly contacted the Thai premier for the talks.
The International Court of Justice in 1962 ruled that the 11th century temple belongs to Cambodia. UNESCO accorded its status as a World Heritage site in 2008 after Cambodia applied for the privilege while the border dispute remains unresolved.
Thailand made it clear that the country opposed an approval of the World Heritage Committee (WHC) on Phnom Penh's management plan on the temple, saying the plan includes the disputed area by the two countries. The WHC then on July 29 deferred the decision on the plan until it meets next year in Bahrain.
10 comments:
No need to talk because it clearly that Preah Vihear belongs to khmer and it is locating inside khmer's border, simple as that!. So, why talk when there is nothing to talk about, unless Thai PM wanting to further bullying and intimating us knowing that we are weak?. Now, we have the world map as an evidence to prove it and off course, Thai PM should be a shame!!!! which is why this PM wouldn't want Asean committees to be involved or otherwise all will make fun of him, questioning, where is your morality? and off course Thai shirt warned him sooo many times to leave Khmers alone and knowing that khmer had gone through enough already. Becare Abhisit, what goes around comes around...do good for it will last forever and do bad, it will be short lived. Aust
Correction: Thai redshirts warned him...Aust
Why Thai are so stupid? Can Thai find any sensible leader to lead Thai and leave Khmer Prea Vihear alone? Damn, you did not build Preah Vihear temple, therefore, is not yours. Just as simple as that. Khmer has not raise the issue of 8 province taken from us. There are so many issue facing Thai people, and all they focus on is to have temple that you did not build. GO figure! Just plain stupid.
Why not Suthep? why you Thai people affraid of the world knew about your bad behavior? you Thai people have something to hide? huh? stop dreaming about 4.6km of lands and preah vihear temple, cambodia will not share her bank account...got that?
Hun Sen must not be a FOOL! share our bank acct. with Thailand...that's very dumbjackAzzzzzzz?
Thailand affraid of international court and UN, Thailand will lose the case 100%!, More Khmer lands that Thailand had robbed and stole will reveal to the world, this is why Thailand so affraid and scared...cambodia must stick with UN and Internation community mediation!! we must crab Thailand by it neck!!
This is BullShit...Khmer government! you the CCP member! when this Temple deal is done, Built a wall 30 Feets wall blocking out thailand views. They just want that temple so Tourist can come and visits. $$$$$$$$
I urge PM Hun Sen shut down our border between Thai/Khmer, let Thailand cry like a baby...! if Burma can do it! we can do it also..! Thailand must be punish and teach them a lesson...
Fuck You Ah Hun Sen and your CPP crooks, why don't you just go to the UN for help earlier? You fucking idiot.
Hey! mother fucker 11:35pm
you think you can do better than Hun Sen..stfu..MF..go screw your step daughter for a change would you..
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