Minister Prepares for Border Discussions

By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
30 July 2009

Foreign Minister Hor Namhong on Thursday urged border committees from Cambodia and Thailand to find a resolution to the ongoing border dispute between the two neighbors.

Hor Namhong made his remarks ahead of a joint border committee meeting scheduled in Bangkok next week, where he will meet with his counterpart Kasit Phiromya.

Hor Namhong told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs he would push for a resolution to the crisis, which has claimed seven lives in military skirmishes over the past year, and would seek to have the disputed border demarcated.

Thai soldiers entered a disputed area in July 2008 near Preah Vihear temple, which had just been listed as a World Heritage site. The incursion sparked a massive build-up of troops on both sides, and several rounds of talks have failed to resolved the problem.

Var Kimhong, head of Cambodia’s border committee, said the Cambodia side will request from Thailand “a clear date” for the joint committees to find suitable places for border demarcation.

Cambodia and Thailand have approved more than 30 out of 73 sites where markers need to be placed along 805 kilometers of border, he said.

Cambodian FM to visit Thailand in early August on border issues

PHNOM PENH, July 30 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia and Thailand will have a meeting of multi-committee in Bangkok to push the measurement for border demarcation, a senior official said on Thursday.

"I will go to Thailand for the meeting of multi-committee on August 3 and 4," Hor Namhong, deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation told reporters after the signing ceremony of receiving over 33 million U.S. dollars grant aid from Japanese government at his ministry.

"I will require Thai side to continue discussion on the border issues and the Border Committee from both countries will meet soon to discuss on the measurement of the border to plant border posts," he added.

"The situation at areas near Preah Vihear temple is calm now, and Thai troops are deployed on there soil," Hor Namhong said. "There are no tension at the border, not like the media reported," he stressed.

At the same time, Hor also thanked Thai government cabinet for its approving on Tuesday to provide 41.2 million U.S. dollars for road improvement projects in Cambodia. The fund will be used to build Road 68 near border with Thailand, which will help facilitate the trade and tourism between the two countries, he noted.

Moreover, Cambodia and Thailand will open more border gates to push and facilitate the trade and tourism, he said.

Cambodia and Thailand share over 800 km-long borders. The troops from both sides have some confrontation since July 15, 2008, mainly near 11th century Preah Vihear temple.