Aekarach Sattaburuth and Pradit Ruangdit
Bangkok Post
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti has decided to stay on as head of the Thai delegation to a World Heritage Committee meeting in Paris in June.
Mr Suwit had a change of heart after a meeting with Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban and Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya yesterday.
Speaking after the meeting, Mr Suwit said the meeting agreed to set up an ad-hoc committee to solve the border conflict with Cambodia.
The prime minister wanted him to lead the committee to ensure that there is policy unity in handling the issue, said Mr Suwit.
"The prime minister wants me to head the ad-hoc panel. I am willing to carry out the task to protect the country's sovereignty and create a better understanding between Thailand and Cambodia," said Mr Suwit.
On Tuesday, Mr Suwit said he would quit the delegation, citing conflicts with the Foreign Ministry over the country's stand at the World Heritage Committee meeting which will consider Cambodia's proposal to manage the disputed land around the Preah Vihear temple.
He said the setting up of the ad-hoc panel would ensure policy unity among Thai agencies tasked with solving the border dispute. All must have the same direction in solving the problem and share the same position, he said.
He said that Thailand and Cambodia must demarcate the border in the disputed area around the temple first.
He denied he changed his mind after Mr Suthep was upset with his decision to leave the delegation and asked him to leave the cabinet. He said the duty of heading the delegation was actually not that of the environment minister but rather the foreign minister.
But he voluntarily offered to carry out this duty in the first place as he disagreed with the previous government's decision backing Cambodia's proposal to manage the land around the temple.
A source said Mr Suwit proposed two preconditions for his comeback. He wanted the prime minister to confirm that Thailand and Cambodia must complete demarcation first and he must be made head of the ad-hoc panel with full authority to negotiate about the issue.
Mr Abhisit accepted the two conditions before meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Trairong Suwannakhiri, Mr Kasit and Culture Minister Niphit Intharasombat. All agreed, said the source.
3 comments:
If i remember well, there will be a meeting on 25 May in Paris.
HAHAHAHAHA...I GUESS..SIAM IS AFRAID TO FACING THE FRENH,,CUZ..FRENH HAVE HAD KNOWN THE TRUE HISTORY BETWEEN KHMER AND SIAM PRETTY WELL..SIAM WILL PUT A BROWN PAPER BAG TO COVER THEIR FACE TO FACING WITH THE FRENCH..
GOOD LUCK SIAM LOSER..
The Khmer leaders must argue base on fact! The fact is Khmer Preah Vihear temple belong to Cambodia according to the French map and the World Court decision!
The Khmer leaders must propose two preconditions for any border demarcation to begin! The Siem leaders must pull back all Siem troop to the same position prior to June 2008 before the border conflict. The second condition is the Siem can't use their unilateral map as a base for negotiation with Cambodia!
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