Asian and European [ASEM] leaders to meet in Brussels

LONDON, June 10 (APP)-As many as 48 Heads of State and Government from 46 Asian and European countries, and the European Commission and the ASEAN Secretariat will meet in Brussels on October 4 and 5 this year for Summit discussions on key global challenges and ways of strengthening political, economic and cultural ties between the two continents.The 8th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit offers a unique and important opportunity for deepening relations between Europe and an increasingly self-confident, dynamic, “rising” Asia .

This Summit will, in fact, be the largest ever such gathering in Brussels , which is home both to the European Union and NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, organisers said Thursday.

When they last met at Summit level in Beijing in 2008, ASEM’s 45 Asian and European leaders then had the first major discussion on how to contain the global financial crisis just as its effects were beginning.

That Beijing ASEM Summit was a key preparation for the subsequent G20 Summits which have emerged as a new global economic governance fora. European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso’s message in Beijing : “we either swim together or sink together” was echoed by both Asian and European leaders who committed themselves to joint efforts to spur their domestic and global economies.

This year’s ASEM summit will also inevitably focus on the continuing fall-out of the economic and financial crisis, especially on existing global governance structures, ways to encourage more Asia-Europe cooperation on energy, environmental protection, food security and social development ­ so-called “sustainable development” issues ­ improving relations between the peoples of Europe and Asia, and common challenges, including counter-terrorism, fighting piracy at sea and organized crime.

In addition, in a sign of changing times and regional re-jigging, Russia , Australia and New Zealand will become official members of ASEM and their leaders will be in Brussels.

Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) is a forum for dialogue between Europe and Asia . Since its establishment in 1996 ASEM has been the main multilateral channel for communication between Asia and Europe , strengthening interaction and mutual understanding.

The current ASEM partners are: Austria, Belgium, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Cambodia, China, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Laos, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mongolia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, The Netherlands, The Philippines, United Kingdom, Vietnam, the ASEAN Secretariat and the European Commission.

Cambodia proposes 4 measures to resolve Thai-Khmer border issues [... none of which involves troops removal from Preah Vihear, unfortunately]

BANGKOK, Oct 26 (TNA) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has proposed four measures aimed at solving the Thai-Cambodian border conflict following bloody clashes between the militaries of the two neighbours earlier this month, Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sompong Amornvivat said on Sunday.

Speaking during the first 'weekly television programme, its first since the present government assumed power on September 25, Mr. Sompong said Premier Hun Sen's proposals were made to his Thai counterpart Premier Somchai Wongsawat on the sidelines of the Seventh Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in Beijing on Saturday.

Cambodian Prime Minister proposed that peaceful negotiations must be held between the two countries and there must not be future clashes. Problems must be solved through bilateral talks, he emphasised, and the two counties must accelerate their peace negotiations under the framework of the joint border committee, and restore bilateral trade and investment.

Buoyed by Mr. Hun Sen's remarks that peace is at hand on the Thai-Cambodian border as the soldiers of the two countries posted there have exchanged food and otherwise socialised with each other, Mr. Sompong said he is confident that the conflict would be settled after the progress registered in last Friday's initial agreement.

The tentative agreement reached by senior army officers from both countries in Cambodia's historic Siem Reap will be given to the Thai parliament for its consideration on Tuesday.

Latest border skirmishes occurred on October 15 when Thai and Cambodian military units exchanged gunfire near the ancient Preah Vihear temple with one Thai and two Cambodians dying and a number of troops from both sides wounded.

Somchai, Hun Sen agree to talks, restraint [-Only more talks are promised, nothin else]

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, left, smiles as he shakes hands with Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister Sompong Amornvivat, during the seventh Asia-Europe Summit (Asem) in Beijing yesterday. The border dispute was brought up for discussion.

Saturday October 25, 2008
ACHARA ASHAYAGACHAT and AFP
Bangkok Post

THAI-CAMBODIAN BORDER ROW

BEIJING : The Thai and Cambodian leaders yesterday agreed to avert any future armed conflicts along the border by using bilateral talks to solve problems.

The Joint Boundary Committee (JBC) will hold a meeting within two weeks after the Thai parliament endorses a temporary framework for the negotiations next Tuesday.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen told Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat on the sidelines of the Asia-Europe Meeting (Asem) in Beijing that the border clash last week was unplanned and from now on the two sides would advise their troops to show restraint and not confront each other, Thai Foreign Minister Sompong Amornvivat said yesterday.

He said Hun Sen added that the two countries would try to prevent any further armed clashes and would use existing mechanisms in order to deal with their boundary disputes.

The Cambodian leader also said the two sides would promote and improve cooperation on the regional, international and bilateral fronts.

Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said Hun Sen told Mr Somchai that Thailand was not only a neighbour, but also a friend.

In separate talks between the Thai and Cambodian military commanders in Siem Reap yesterday, which are aimed at defusing tensions near the ancient Preah Vihear temple that erupted into a firefight on Oct 15, leaving one Thai and three Cambodian soldiers dead, both sides agreed to be more patient and avoid another clash.

"For the issue of the Preah Vihear area, both sides vowed to exercise maximum patience in order to avoid confrontation or more military clashes," the leader of the Cambodian delegation, General Chea Mon, told reporters after the meeting.

"Both sides will continue discussions on resolving the problem peacefully to ease the tension gradually," he said.

The Thai commanders, led by Lt-Gen Wiboonsak Neeparn, the Second Army commander, said there was a "friendly atmosphere" with the Cambodians, but insisted that Thailand's soldiers would stand firm.

"The Thai side strongly reiterates that the position of our troop deployments is clearly inside Thai territory," said a statement from Thai commanders released as the meetings started.

Thailand and Cambodia vow peace

The dispute has stirred intense nationalist passions on both sides

Friday, 24 October 2008
BBC News

Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to resolve a border dispute peacefully "for the sake of our neighbourliness".

Bilateral talks on the issue were held on the sidelines of the Asia-Europe summit (Asem) in Beijing.

The demarcation of land around Preah Vihear temple on the countries' border has never been clearly settled.

Tensions have recently been rekindled, and last week erupted into open combat. Three Cambodian and one Thai soldier died in exchanges of fire.

'Uncontrollable'

Foreign ministers from the two countries spoke to reporters after the Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and his Thai counterpart, Somchai Wongsawat, held talks earlier on Friday.

"We are not just neighbours, we are very good friends indeed," Thai Foreign Minister Sompong Amornwiwat said.

"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."

Mr Sompong added that the two sides had been advised to avoid confrontation.

Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said: "What happened between us we have to solve peacefully, amicably, for the sake of our neighbourliness."

The military stand-off began in July when Cambodian troops detained three Thai protesters who had entered the site illegally.

The dispute centres on 1.8 square miles (4.6 sq km) of scrub near the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple.

An international court awarded the temple to Cambodia in 1962, but land surrounding it remains the subject of rival territorial claims.

'No quick resolution'

Meanwhile, senior military officials echoed the pledge to reduce tensions as they met in Siem Reap in northern Cambodia.

Both are sides are "committed to exercising their utmost restraint to avoid confrontation or armed clashes", said Cambodian regional army commander Maj Gen Chea Mon, according to AP news agency.

The two sides had agreed to joint border patrols to defuse tensions, but according to AFP news agency these have not materialised.

The BBC's Guy De Launey, in Beijing for the Asem summit, cautions that Thailand's domestic political situation could prove a distraction - and he says Cambodia has indicated it is not expecting a swift resolution.

The issue stirs intense nationalist passions on both sides, and an army recruitment drive in border areas has been over-subscribed, he adds.

Thailand, Cambodia to step up efforts to fix border

Friday, October 24, 2008
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)

Cambodian, Thai leaders agree to avoid border conflict: ministers

Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Nambong (left) with his Thai counterpart Sompong Amornvivat in Beijing

Friday, October 24, 2008

BEIJING (AFP) — The Thai and Cambodian prime ministers agreed during a meeting here on Friday that their nations would prevent any more armed clashes over a border dispute, their foreign ministers said.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and his Thai counterpart Somchai Wongsawat, in Beijing for a summit of Asian and European leaders, met to discuss the tensions that have erupted into deadly clashes.

"The two sides have to advise our troops not to have confrontations any longer," Thai Foreign Minister Sompong Amornviwat told reporters as he summarised agreements made between the two leaders.

Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong, standing alongside Sompong, made similar remarks and described the atmosphere of the talks as "very good, very friendly."

"We are moving in a good track. Not only to solve the problem of the borders between our two countries but also on a good track to improve our neighbourliness and cooperations," Hor Namhong said.

Tensions between the two neighbours flared in July when an ancient temple on their border was awarded United Nations World Heritage status, rekindling long-running tensions over ownership of land surrounding the temple.

The situation quickly escalated into a military confrontation, with up to 1,000 Cambodian and Thai troops facing off for six weeks, although both sides in August agreed to reduce troop numbers in the main disputed area.

The Cambodian-Thai border has never been fully demarcated, in part because it is littered with landmines left over from decades of war in Cambodia.

Thailand, Cambodia say clashes behind them [-Who are they kidding?]

BEIJING, Oct 24 (Reuters) - Thailand and Cambodia put on a joint brave face on Friday saying they were confident this month's border clashes were behind them.

A Thai soldier died on Tuesday from wounds sustained on Oct. 15 in a 40-minute firefight near the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple, which is claimed by both countries. Three Cambodian soldiers were also killed.

The leaders and foreign ministers of the Southeast Asian countries met on the sidelines of an Asia-Europe summit which is focused on the global economic crisis.

"We are not just neighbours, we are very good friends indeed," Thai Foreign Minister Sompong Amornvivat 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."

The two sides said they would resort to "all existing mechanisms to solve the problem on the border".

The confrontation was the most serious border clash in years but tensions have now eased and both sides have already said they do not expect any escalation.

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, but it failed to determine the ownership of 1.8 square miles (4.6 sq km) of scrub next to the Hindu ruins.

(Reporting by Ian Ransom; Writing by Nick Macfie; Editing by Valerie Lee)

Thailand seeks "amicable" resolution of border dispute [-Thailand's all talk but no action]

Fri 24 Oct 2008

BEIJING (Reuters) - Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, heading into talks on Friday with his Cambodian counterpart in Beijing, said he wanted an amicable solution to recent border clashes.

Somchai and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen met on the sidelines of an Asia-Europe summit which is focussed on the global economic crisis.

Thailand "hopes to solve the problem peacefully and amicably," Somshai told reporters, repeating a line used by both leaders in the past.

A Thai soldier died on Tuesday from wounds sustained on October 15 in a 40-minute firefight near the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple, which is claimed by both countries. Three Cambodian soldiers were also killed.

It was the most serious border clash in years but tensions have now eased and both sides have said they do not expect any escalation in the conflict.

Hun Sen said last week there was no need for outsiders such as the United Nations or the Association of South East Asian Nations to get involved in the dispute.

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, but it failed to determine the ownership of 1.8 square miles (4.6 sq km) of scrub next to the Hindu ruins.

(Reporting by Ian Ransom; Writing by Nick Macfie; Editing by Sanjeev Miglani)

Chinese Premier meets Cambodian Prime Minister

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (R) shakes hands with Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen before their meeting in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing October 24, 2008. Dozens of Asian and European leaders, representing half the global economy, have gathered in Beijing this week at the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) starting Friday. The 27 EU member states and the European Commission will trade views with Japan, China, India and 13 other Asian countries on the global downturn, climate change and international security. REUTERS/POOL/David Gray

BEIJING, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met here Friday with the Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, hailing for the long-standing friendship of the two nations and hoping for further cooperation.

The year of 2008 not only marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Sino-Cambodian diplomatic relations, but also is celebrated as the Year of China-Cambodia Friendship.

China was willing to take the opportunity to work with Cambodia to enhance the exchanges and cooperation between the two countries so as to lift the China-Cambodia relations to a new stage, said Wen.

China would continue to support the economic development of Cambodia and to promote the key cooperation projects, especially in the infrastructure facilities construction on transportation and communication, he said.

On the Friendship Year, Hun Sen said the related celebrations cemented the traditional friendship of the two peoples and the Cambodian people appreciated China's long-term aid.

Cambodia hoped China will continue to support its economic development and further cooperation in water resources projects and infrastructure facilities construction, he said.

The Cambodian Prime Minister arrived in Beijing on Thursday afternoon to attend the two-day seventh Asia-Europe Meeting starting from Friday.

[Thai] PM to restore Thailand's image at Asem summit

Friday October 24, 2008

(BangkokPost.com) - Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat said he will use the summit of Asia-Europe Meeting (Asem) to restore Thailand's international luster that has been diminished due to political turmoil.

Issues that he expected to be discussed at the summit include global financial crisis, as Thailand has experienced financial crisis in 1997, he said.

He will meet Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen on Friday on the sidelines of the summit to discuss border conflict.

It will be the first meeting between leaders of both countries after clashes between Thai and Cambodian soldiers earlier this month.

One Thai soldier and two Cambodian soldiers were killed in the clashes.

Fortuneteller: If Somchai leaves Thailand to China at this time, he will not be able to return to the country

PM appreciates fortune-teller’s warning before joining ASEM

October 24th, 2008
Source : National News Bureau, Public Relations Department of Thailand

Prime Minister and Defense Minister Somchai Wongsawat urges all Thai citizens to compromise and be patient while thanking a fortune-teller for his recent forecast.

Today’s morning (October 23rd), Mr.Somchai, as prime minister and representative of Thailand, has traveled to Beijing, China, on Flight TG614 for his attendance at the 7th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM). During his brief interview before departing, he shows his appreciation in regards to the recent warning from a fortune-teller, which has been forecasted that, if the premier leaves Thailand at this time, he will not be able to return to the country. However, he explains that he has to prioritize his duties and to remain rational since his heed to such prediction would largely affect the country.

On the other hand, Mr.Somchai states that he has not been acknowledged of any details concerning Former Deputy Police Chief Salang Bunnag’s plan to surround the Government House and to pressure the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) to abandon the site. Personally, he renounces any further violence and points out that negotiation is always an option since our nation has suffered enough.

Mr.Somchai will station in Beijing until October 25th, when he is set to fly back to Chiang Mai at 9:45 pm. He will preside over the opening ceremony of the Chiang Mai Zoo Aquarium later on.

EU presses China to show leadership in crisis

Oct 23, 2008
Ben Blanchard and Gernot Heller
Reuters

The European Union on Thursday urged more say for Beijing in international financial bodies but said China in return had to play its part in helping to resolve the current global economic crisis.

The comments by European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso set the stage for a two-day summit in Beijing of the 27 EU member states and 16 Asian countries covering the global downturn, climate change and international security.

"We need a coordinated global response to reform the global financial system. We are living in unprecedented times, and we need unprecedented levels of global coordination," Barroso said.

"It's very simple: we sink together or we swim together," he told reporters.

U.S. President George W. Bush has invited the Group of 20 nations, which includes major industrial states and big emerging economies such as China, India and Brazil, to meet in the United States on November 15 to discuss global financial reforms.

Diplomats said the commission, the EU's executive arm, and France, which currently holds the EU's rotating presidency, hope to win a commitment from China in particular to use its clout to help shape the reforms and tackle the economic imbalances at the root of the current meltdown.

"I very much hope that China gives an important contribution to the solution of this financial crisis," Barroso said. "I think it's a great opportunity for China to show a sense of responsibility."

Later, Barroso dangled the carrot of greater influence for Beijing on the world financial stage.

China this year won a modest increase in its voting power at the International Monetary Fund but argues that it is still not being allowed to punch its weight as the world's fourth-largest economy and the one that is growing fastest.

"We think China could and should have a greater voice in international financial institutions," Barroso said in a speech at a school for civil servants.

HUMAN RIGHTS

The purpose of the biennial Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), launched 12 years ago, is to narrow the diplomatic distance between two continents accounting for 60 percent of global output and two-thirds of world trade.

But a decision on Thursday by the European Parliament to give its top human rights prize to Chinese activist Hu Jia risked straining ties with summit host Beijing.

"By awarding the Sakharov Prize to Hu Jia, the European Parliament is sending out a signal of clear support to all those who defend human rights in China," the assembly's president, Hans-Gert Poettering, told EU lawmakers in Strasbourg.

The award to Hu, who was jailed for subversion after testifying to the EU parliament last year, drew a tart response from China.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said the giving of the prize to "a jailed criminal" was a meddling in China's domestic affairs and a violation of international norms, but added it would not overshadow the summit, which starts on Friday.

"Relative to so many pressing international affairs, it's too trivial to dwell on," Liu said.

Barroso, who said human rights would be raised at the ASEM talks, was not alone in urging closer cooperation between the two blocs.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said after meeting Premier Wen Jiabao that working together was the key to overcoming the present financial crisis, the deepest in more than 70 years.

Among a spate of other meetings on the sidelines of ASEM, Southeast Asian leaders were due later on Thursday to discuss a Thai proposal to develop an emergency financial fund for the region.

Thailand also wants countries around Asia to pool part of their vast holdings of foreign exchange reserves to facilitate trade, investment and tourism in the region.

South Korea, Japan and China -- which will meet the leaders of ASEAN on Friday -- were likely to endorse the urgency of beefing up an existing web of central bank credit lines totalling $80 billion (49.6 billion pounds) by the first half of 2009, diplomats said.

But they said the three North Asian neighbours, which have the biggest holdings of currency reserves in Asia, were opposed to putting part of their currency hoards into a common pot.

ASEAN comprises Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, Philippines, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar and Brunei. Thailand currently chairs the group.

(Additional reporting by Simon Rabinovitch; Writing by Alan Wheatley; Editing by Jeremy Laurence)

Golf diplomacy to ease Thai-Camobdia border dispute

Thursday, October 23, 2008

SIEM REAP, Cambodia (AFP) — Cambodia's defence minister teed off with Thai military officials Thursday in a spot of golf diplomacy ahead of talks aimed at resolving a fierce border dispute.

A meeting of mid-level officials in Cambodia's northwest tourist hub Siem Reap was meant to pave the way for substantive talks on Friday between senior commanders on tensions that erupted into deadly clashes last week.

While their juniors met, Cambodian defence minister Tea Banh arrived a day early for a round of golf with Thai military men.

"The discussion today has resolved a lot of problems," Tea Banh told AFP on his way to the links.

"The meeting (Friday) will clearly ease the situation more because we will discuss ways to make it better."

The talks are aimed at resolving a simmering territorial dispute over land near the ancient Preah Vihear temple, which broke into a firefight a week ago that left one Thai and three Cambodian soldiers dead.

General Neang Phat, secretary of state at Cambodia's defence ministry, told reporters earlier Thursday that he thought commanders would reach an agreement to reduce the number of soldiers deployed in disputed territory.

"We will also talk about how to avoid military confrontation and to continue re-deploying the troops," he said.

Separately, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and his Thai opposite number Somchai Wongsawat are scheduled to meet Friday in Beijing on the margins of a summit between leaders of Asian and European nations.

Somchai told reporters Thursday that he wanted peace restored between the neighbours "as soon as possible."

"My meeting with Hun Sen is on the basis that we are close neighbouring countries that can never separate," Somchai said.

"We will have a good and amicable relationship with each other. If there is a problem, we will solve it with peaceful measures... If something needs to be done, we must do it to bring peace and order back as soon as possible."

Governors of four Cambodian and four Thai provinces affected by the border dispute also met Thursday in Siem Reap to discuss how to help local interests during the military standoff.

"The meeting (of governors) focused on cooperation of all sectors including trade and tourism," Siem Reap governor Sou Phirin told reporters.

"We want people on both sides to believe there is no armed conflict."

Cambodian and Thai military officials agreed to joint border patrols a day after last week's clashes between soldiers stationed on disputed land near the temple, which belongs to Cambodia.

But Cambodian commanders have since backed out, saying such patrols are not possible in disputed areas.

Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia flared in July when Preah Vihear was awarded United Nations World Heritage status, rekindling long-running tensions over ownership of land surrounding the temple.

Off to Beijing

Thursday October 23, 2008
dpa, BangkokPost.com

Embattled Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat left Thursday for the two-day Asia-Europe Meeting Summit in Beijing where he faces a busy visit.

Mr Somchai and his entourage left at 10:40 am (0340 GMT) to Beijing, which will host the seventh Asem Summit on Friday and Saturday.

Mr Somchai, who has been Thailand's prime minister for only 35 days, will be a key player at Asem, especially on the sidelines of the summit.

He is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on the two countries' joint claims to an overlapping 4.6 square kilometres of land adjacent to the 11th century Preah Vihear temple.

"We are hoping the meeting will create more understanding," said Thai Foreign ministry spokesman Tharit Charungvat. "Already the situation has improved, and we're hoping we can come back to the track we were following all along that this issue should be settled by bilateral talks," said Tharit.

On Oct 15, Thai and Cambodian troops opened fire on one another in the disputed zone near the temple in a confrontation that reportedly claimed two Cambodian dead and five Thais wounded, one of whom died in hospital earlier this week.

The temple was awarded to Cambodia by the International Court of Justice in the Hague in 1962.

However, the ruling failed to state the common border in the area surrounding the temple complex, which is still subject to joint claims. The long spat escalated after the temple was named a World Heritage Site by Unesco.

Mr Somchai will also be tasked to explain to his Asem partners what the political situation is in Thailand.

Since being named prime minister last month, Mr Somchai has been under constant pressure to resign and dissolve his cabinet by the People's Alliance for Democracy. PAD leaders said on Wednesday they will continue their protests until they force the government to resign, call elections and adopt their "new politics".

Thailand's ongoing political instability is a worry for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations which will hold its annual summit in the kingdom in mid-December.

In light of the ongoing unrest in Bangkok, the government is mulling moving the Asean summit to the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai.

"It's a possibility," confirmed Foreign Ministry spokesman Tharit.

[Thai] PM to 'explain things' in Beijing

Thursday October 23, 2008
ACHARA ASHAYAGACHAT
Bangkok Post

Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat brings with him heavy luggage when he lands in Beijing today for the 7th summit of the Asia-Europe Meeting (Asem).

The Oct 23-25 visit to Beijing is Mr Somchai's first foreign trip since he was chosen Thailand's 26th prime minister 35 days ago by 298 votes against 198 in parliament.

Traditional courtesy calls to leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), earlier scheduled for last week, were cancelled due to political turbulence at home amid rumours of a possible coup against his administration.

Mr Somchai is perhaps the only Asean leader who might not make that protocol trip to Asean after all - as he is also tangled in possible court cases at home and his government is in a losing battle with the street demonstrations led by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), which has occupied Government House since Aug 26.

Although Mr Somchai's alleged wrongdoing in connection with a land auction case was ruled "an act of carelessness" by the National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC), and a lawsuit filed by Senator Ruangkrai Leekijwattana in the Constitution Court challenging his qualifications to become premier has yet to be decided, his image on the international stage is already tainted.

The situation regarding his beleaguered government has raised concern not only within Asean but also among friends from Europe and East Asia - they wonder whether he will still be around when Bangkok is scheduled to host the 14th Asean Summit in December, when the Asean Charter will officially take effect. The 61-year-old Mr Somchai, who is a brother-in-law of convicted ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, must have adequate and convincing explanations ready for his foreign counterparts in Beijing.

Mr Somchai is scheduled to hold talks with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, with whom he has cultivated good relations thanks to the Thaksin connection. He will also have a bilateral meeting with Jose Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission, besides confirmed meetings with leaders from the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia as well as a protocol meeting with the host, China.

In Beijing, Mr Somchai has with him Deputy PM Olarn Chaipravat (Finance Minister Suchart Thada-Thamrongvech will not attend the meeting) to discuss with the other 44 Asem members (27 EU members, nine Asean countries, China, Japan, South Korea and new members India, Pakistan, Mongolia, Romania and Bulgaria) plus two organisations - the European Commission and the Asean Secretariat - issues regarding the looming impact of the global financial crisis.

The Thai premier also has with him Foreign Minister Sompong Amornvivat for discussions relating to Asean and Cambodian issues.

(It is interesting that Mr Somchai believes the military top brass back home will not stage a coup against his administration, though they have been calling on him to quit the post for the sake of national reconciliation.)

Mr Somchai believes the general sentiment overseas is still supportive of his elected government. He only needs to convince the world that the PAD-led battle against him has no legal validity and that he has to stay on to carry the torch of democracy. Of course he has street movements such as the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship cheering him on. Jakrapob Penkair, former minister of the PM's Office from the previous Samak administration, has been acting as his de facto spokesman for the foreign community. If things work out in favour of his government, Mr Somchai thinks he will need two more months before clearing the exit runway.

The premier has even told his men to find a contingency venue for the Asean summit, as Bangkok might not be safe for dignitaries should things turn ugly against his government. He is thinking of Chiang Mai - a key base of the ruling People Power party and political stronghold of his wife who is Thaksin's younger sister - as a possible venue for the Asean summit in mid-December.

But we may have to weigh his performance on the international front according to his success in achieving guarantees from Hun Sen that the latter will not behave unpredictably against Thailand on border issues. It would certainly help smooth Thai-Cambodian interaction if parliament were to quickly endorse the provisional arrangement agreed on by former foreign minister Tej Bunnag and his Cambodian counterpart Hor Namhong in Cha-am two months ago, so that experts could proceed with boundary talks. In the meantime, the flashpoint at Phu Makhua may need the regional border commission, which is meeting today in Siem Reap, to ease tensions.

Until parliament endorses the provisional arrangement, hopefully by next week, so that foreign ministry officials can negotiate with Cambodia properly, possible border or verbal conflicts with Cambodia cannot be ruled out. In which case the joint boundary commission, the proper channel to address sensitive matters, would not be able to function.

Biggest ASEM summit set to begin in Beijing

Thu, October 23, 2008
By Kittipong Thavevong
The Nation
Beijing

Leaders from 43 Asian and European countries as well as two important groupings from both continents gather for the Seventh Asia-Europe Meeting in the Chinese capital on Friday.

ASEM has come a long way and seen much progress since the first one was organised in Bangkok in 1996. At that time, the simple goal of holding a biennial summit of Asian and European Union leaders was to strengthen the relationship between the two regions.

Initially, the focus was on economic matters but later on the topics discussed have expanded to such issues as climate change, food security and, especially this year, global economic downturn. At the Beijing summit, a closing statement is expected to highlight the financial meltdown and economic slowdown facing the western part of the grouping.

China's Vice President Xi Jinping on Wednesday called for more international cooperation to resolve the financial crisis. He was presiding over the opening of the 11th Asia-Europe Business Forum, which preceded the ASEM summit.

Critics often describe ASEM as a "talk shop", an international conference that produces no binding measures. However, some observers pointed to increased and closer cooperation between the east and the west and even among Asian countries.

Sebastian Bersick, a long-time observer of ASEM from the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, said that under the ASEM umbrella, countries from the European Union (EU) and Asia can now have more frequent discussions between them on various matters.

Also, he said, ASEM is generally tolerant of civil society and welcomes viewpoints from non-governmental groups. Civil society has managed to hold its parallel meeting during every of the ASEM summits from the first one in Bangkok 12 years ago.

However, certain hosts of ASEM appeared to be unhappy with civil society, according to Klaus Fritsche, manager of the Asiahouse who took part in the Seventh Asia-Europe People's Forum in Beijing last week. He said many of the people's forum participants had difficulties getting their visas to China. A similar problem occurred before the civil society's forum in Hanoi in 2004, he said. In that year Vietnam hosted the Fifth ASEM summit.

ASEM, an informal process of dialogue and cooperation, brings together all the 27 EU member states and the EU's executive body, the European Commission, with 16 Asian countries and the Asean Secretariat. Apart of the 10 member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), China, Japan and South Korea, three new member states from Asia - India, Pakistan and Mongolia - will be attending the biennial event for the first time.

And in addition to the European Commission, which has been an ASEM partner from the beginning, the Asean Secretariat will take part for the first time after its admission at the previous summit in Helsinki, Finland, two years ago along with the three new Asian member states. The Asean Secretariat will be represented by Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan.

The theme for the two-day ASEM 7 is "Vision and Action: Towards a Win-Win Solution".

"ASEM leaders will focus their discussions on political, economic and social and cultural issues, including issues related to sustainable development," said the summit's official website (www.asem7.cn).

Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat was scheduled to leave Bangkok for Beijing on Thursday. Other Asean leaders have arrived for the summit earlier in the week, including Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen, who is expected to have an informal meeting with Somchai about a border dispute.

The Thai premier is also likely to meet with other Asean leaders at the side of ASEM, including Philippine President Gloria Arroyo and Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Thai premier off to Asia-Europe Meeting with plenty on his plate

Thu, 23 Oct 2008
DPA

Bangkok - Thailand's embattled Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat departed Thursday to attend the two-day Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit in Beijing where the soft-spoken leader can look forward to a busy visit. Somchai and his entourage departed at 10:40 am (0340 GMT) to Beijing, which will host the seventh ASEM Summit on Friday and Saturday.

The diminutive Somchai, who has been Thailand's prime minister for only 35 days, will be a key player at ASEM, especially on the sidelines of the summit.

He is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on the two countries' joint claims to a contested 4.6 square kilometres of land adjacent to the 11th century Preah Vihear temple, the source of a sovereignty dispute for more than five decades between Thailand and its neighbour.

"We are hoping the meeting will create more understanding," said Thai Foreign ministry spokesman Tharit Charungvat. "Already the situation has improved, and we are hoping we can come back to the track we were following all along that this issue should be settled by bilateral talks," said Tharit.

On October 15, Thai and Cambodian troops opened fire on one another in the disputed zone near the temple in a confrontation that reportedly claimed two Cambodian dead and five Thais wounded, one of whom died in hospital earlier this week.

Preah Vihear, a Hindu temple perched on the Dongrak mountain range that vaguely defines the Thai-Cambodian border, has been a source of nationalistic breast-beating on both sides since the late 1950s.

The temple was awarded to Cambodia by the International Court of Justice in the Hague in 1962, although many Thais still dispute the ruling, which was based on a French-drawn border map.

The court failed to rule on where the common border lay in the area surrounding the temple complex, which is still subject to joint claims that turned into a military spat in July this year shortly after temple was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Somchai will also be tasked to explain to his ASEM partners what the political situation is in Thailand.

Since being named prime minister last month, Somchai has been under constant pressure to resign and dissolve his cabinet by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), a loose collation of conservative groups fanatically opposed to former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his political allies.

Somchai is Thaksin's brother-in-law and a senior member of the People Power Power (PPP) that won the most seats in the December 23, 2007, general election on a pro-Thaksin platform and leads the current coalition government.

The PPP is deemed a proxy party for Thaksin, a billionaire former telecommunications tycoon who was toppled by a coup in September, 2006, and currently lives in self-exile in London with his family.

Thailand's ongoing political instability is a worry for the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) which will hold its annual summit in the kingdom in mid-December.

In light of the ongoing unrest in Bangkok, where the PAD has seized Government House - the seat of the executive - and continues to hold protests, the government is mulling moving the ASEAN summit to the northern Thai city Chiang Mai.

"It's a possibility," confirmed Foreign Ministry spokesman Tharit.

Amidst Thai-Cambodia spat, Asem meets in China

Wednesday October 22, 2008
By Bill Smith

NOTE: The Asia-Europe summit runs from Friday to Saturday

Beijing (dpa) - This week's largest ever gathering of Asian and European leaders was planned to focus on efforts to combat climate change and promote sustainable development, but those efforts now look likely to be overshadowed by the need to respond to the global financial turmoil.

The Thai and Cambodian prime ministers are expected to discuss their nations' recent border skirmish on the sidelines of the meeting.

Talks between the prime ministers of India and China, and between the leaders of South Korea and Japan, should be other highlights among the dozens of bilateral sessions expected.

But discussions on the financial crisis and economic recession are likely to dominate the two-day summit.

Talks on the financial crisis are expected to be "very intense" between leaders of the 27 European and 16 Asian nations at the seventh biannual Asia-Europe Meeting (Asem) in Beijing, Serge Abou, the EU ambassador to China, told reporters.

"The main thing is to come out with strong and united messages conveying confidence," Herve Ladsous, the French ambassador to China, said of the talks on global finance.

"China has made it very clear that they will contribute towards a common effort," Ladsous said.

Separate "clusters" of discussions are planned on banking and financial systems, he said.

Expansion of cooperation between Asia and Europe in trade and service industries could play an important role in resolving the financial crisis, Yi Xiaozhun, China's vice-minister of commerce, said on Monday.

"In addition to stabilizing financial markets, open, stable and fair international trade relations are very important for restoring confidence and getting over the economic difficulty," state media quoted Yi as saying.

Asia and Europe "really need an agreement on free trade," Abou said.

"We sincerely hope that this year's conference will give a push to the trade talks," he said.

This year's Asem summit includes several new members, notably India and Pakistan, meaning the delegates represent a combined 50-60 per cent of the global population and economy.

France, which holds the rotating European Union presidency, will present an Asem statement on climate change under the theme of "Vision and action: towards a win-win solution."

Host nation China has drafted another joint statement on the financial crisis, while the EU wants to mark the 60th anniversary of the universal declaration on human rights with a "summit commitment to implementing human rights," said EU officials in Brussels.

The officials said the EU would push for "the maximum commitment we can get" from Asia on signing up to a post-Kyoto deal on climate change at talks in Copenhagen in December 2009.

But China and other Asian nations appear unlikely to shift from their insistence that European and other developed countries must take the lead on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

"China is a big energy consuming power in the world, so we face lots of pressure," Zhang Haibing, an economist at the Shanghai Institute for International Studies, told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.

The ruling Communist Party's promotion of leader Hu Jintao's "scientific outlook on development" reflects the importance that China attaches show to environmental issues, Zhang said.

China also wants to make more use of advanced environmental technology from EU nations, she said.

"The main difference between China and the EU is the idea of 'common but differentiated responsibilities'," she said, referring to China's support for the UN principle of different goals for developing and developed nations.

Despite the anticipation of several joint statements, Zhang said the Asem meeting was "not likely to reach any substantial achievement."

But she denied that bilateral meetings between the leaders would be more important than the main forum, except perhaps for "certain countries or under certain circumstances."

The Asian nations attending the summit are the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), China, Japan, South Korea and new members India, Pakistan and Mongolia.

"The recent turbulence in the international financial market has dealt a blow to the world economy and aroused the concern of the entire international community," Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said in a speech to an Asem forum last week.

"No country in the world can expect to stay away from such issues as global warming, environmental degradation, resource shortage and the increasingly grave international economic and financial situation or address them on one's own," Yang said.

"In this connection, strengthened cooperation between Asia and Europe not only serves the immediate need but also has a long-term strategic significance," he said.

Beijing border talks? [- Another border contention point in Sala Trimuk]

Wednesday October 22, 2008
Bangkok Post Reporters

Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat hopes to discuss the border dispute with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on the sidelines of the Asia-Europe Summit (Asem) in Beijing on Friday and Saturday.

Mr Somchai said on Tuesday the time and date had not yet been arranged.

He hoped the talks would return the relationship to normal and ease the tension over the 4.6 sq km disputed area between Kantharalak district in Si Sa Ket and Preah Vihear temple in Cambodia.

Also on Tuesday, the Foreign Ministry protested against the deployment of Cambodian troops in another overlapping area, at the Trimuk Pavilion, which Thailand claims as part of Ubon Ratchathani province.

Director-general of the Treaties and Legal Affairs Department Virachai Plasai summoned Cambodian Charge d'Affairs Ouk Sophoin to receive the protest note.

It said the boundary in the area was still subject to tripartite negotiations between Thailand, Cambodia and Laos. The presence of Cambodian troops was causing unnecessary tension, said Mr Virachai.

The ministry says nine armed Cambodian troops have been deployed at the pavilion since Sept 18. Thailand claims it is in Nam Yuen district. Laos and Cambodia also claim sovereignty.

"The ministry delayed the protest because it wanted to the check facts first," Mr Virachai said, and called on Cambodia to promptly withdraw its troops.

The cabinet appointed Vasin Teeravejayarn the Thai chairman of the Joint Boundary Commission to demarcate the land border with Cambodia. He was nominated by Foreign Minister Sompong Amornvivat.

Government spokesman Nattawut Saikua said Mr Vasin is a former ambassador to South Korea and former director-general of the Treaties and Legal Affairs Department. He will take up the post on Nov 10.

Meetings have not been scheduled because the government wants parliament to approve the talks for fear of breaching the charter.

One of the seven Thai soldiers wounded during the fighting on Oct 15 was pronounced dead on Tuesday morning.

Volunteer paramilitary ranger Bunyarit Kantee died at Sappasitprasong hospital in Ubon Ratchathani.

He was hit by shrapnel while guarding the border at Phu Makheu, near Preah Vihear.

His body was taken to Ban Natruan temple in Si Sa Ket's Phu Sing district for the bathing rite.

Her Majesty the Queen, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn and HRH Princess Srirasm provided wreaths for the funeral ceremony. HRH Princess Soamsawali has provided royal bathing water.

A royal funeral rite will be held at the temple on Monday .

Second Army deputy commander Maj-Gen Veevalit Jornsamrit said the army has already given 800,000 baht compensation to the ranger's family.

Asian leaders in talks to end spat

October 21, 2008
From correspondents in Bangkok
Agence France-Presse

THE Thai premier has agreed to talks with his Cambodian counterpart this week in China after a long-running border spat escalated into a deadly shootout, a Thai government spokesman said today.

THAI Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat confirmed he would hold talks with Cambodian premier Hun Sen on the sidelines of a Beijing meeting between leaders of Asian and European nations on October 24 and 25, spokesman Nutthawut Saikua said.

"The prime minister had informed his cabinet during a meeting that he made an appointment to meet with Prime Minister Hun Sen while both are attending the (Asia-Europe) meeting in China,'' Mr Nutthawut said.

An adviser for Hun Sen told reporters Monday that the Cambodian premier was expecting to meet with Somchai in Beijing.

Somchai, who has only been in power for one month but is already rattled by local political turmoil, was forced to cancel traditional familiarisation visits to neighbouring Laos, Cambodia, Singapore, and Myanmar this month.

Thai and Cambodian military officials meanwhile are scheduled to hold talks Thursday in Siem Reap aimed at calming the territorial dispute which last week erupted into fighting that killed one Thai and three Cambodian soldiers.

The firefight erupted between soldiers stationed on disputed land near Cambodia's ancient Preah Vihear temple.

Emergency talks the day after ended with Cambodian and Thai officials agreeing to joint border patrols - which have not started yet - but offered no lasting solution to the military stand-off along the border.

Tensions between the neighbours flared in July when Preah Vihear was awarded United Nations World Heritage status, rekindling long-simmering tensions over ownership of land surrounding the temple.