24/09/2010
Thanida Tansubhapol
Bangkok Post
NEW YORK : Thailand is hoping for an improvement in its ties with Cambodia and a solution to the Preah Vihear temple dispute after their leaders meet today to settle their differences.
Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said yesterday that relations had improved after ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra stepped down two months ago from his role as adviser to Cambodia's government.
"It is the responsibility of both countries to move relations forward," the minister said.
"There might be some misunderstanding that we need to talk over."
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is to meet his Cambodian counterpart, Hun Sen, today on the sidelines of the Asean-US summit being held here.
Thai-Cambodian relations took a further turn for the worse in July when Bangkok opposed Phnom Penh's management plan for Preah Vihear during a World Heritage Committee meeting in Brazil because the plan covered overlapping territory. The committee required Phnom Penh to submit the plan after the Hindu temple was listed as a world heritage site in 2008.
Cambodia has called on the international community, including the United Nations and Asean, to mediate the dispute with Thailand. Bangkok insists on settling the dispute bilaterally.
"The two sides will try to find ways to compromise because the management plan has been postponed to next year's WHC meeting in Bahrain," Mr Kasit said.
Washington expressed concern over diplomatic tensions between Thailand and Cambodia during a meeting between Mr Kasit and US Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell on Wednesday.
"He [Mr Campbell] wants Bangkok and Phnom Penh to seek a compromise and asked Thailand to exercise restraint," the minister said.
Mr Abhisit arrived in New York yesterday, where he will attend the UN General Assembly, the Asean-US summit and hold talks with US investors.
1 comment:
keep using the wrong map, siem, and cambodia will never buy into that, ok!
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