Sunday September 21, 2008
Bangkok Post
Cambodian Prime Minister Voices Confidence In New Thai Premier
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has expressed confidence that Thailand and Cambodia can settle their border disputes now Thailand has a new leader.
In a message to new Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, Hun Sen extended his congratulations on the occasion of Mr Somchai being voted by the House of Representatives as new premier. He was royally appointed Thailand's 26th prime minister on Thursday.
Hun Sen also touched on the possibility of improving ties between the two countries.
"I have strong confidence that under your wise leadership, Cambodia and Thailand will soon be able to peacefully and legally settle all the current border issues between our countries in the spirit of friendship and good neighbourliness," he said.
Earlier on Thursday, the two prime ministers also talked on the phone and reiterated their commitment to resolve border conflicts through existing bilateral mechanisms, according to the Foreign Ministry's Information Department.
Both parties recalled their earlier meeting on May 14 during the opening ceremony of Route 48, a road linking the two countries and running through to the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh, at a time when Mr Somchai was Thailand's deputy prime minister and education minister.
Relations between the two neighbours have soured since the World Heritage Committee approved Cambodia's application to list the 11th century Preah Vihear temple ruins as a World Heritage site.
The temple is situated between Si Sa Ket's Kantharalak district and Preah Vihear province in Cambodia.
Both countries have long claimed the Hindu temple, but the International Court of Justice awarded the temple to Cambodia in 1962, although the surrounding area remains in dispute.
The stand-off began when Thailand sent troops to the border on July 15 after Thai anti-government demonstrators assembled near the temple.
Cambodia responded by sending its own troops there.
Following the listing, Cambodia has stepped up claims of ownership over further ancient temples along the Thai-Cambodian border, including Ta Moan Thom temple.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has expressed confidence that Thailand and Cambodia can settle their border disputes now Thailand has a new leader.
In a message to new Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, Hun Sen extended his congratulations on the occasion of Mr Somchai being voted by the House of Representatives as new premier. He was royally appointed Thailand's 26th prime minister on Thursday.
Hun Sen also touched on the possibility of improving ties between the two countries.
"I have strong confidence that under your wise leadership, Cambodia and Thailand will soon be able to peacefully and legally settle all the current border issues between our countries in the spirit of friendship and good neighbourliness," he said.
Earlier on Thursday, the two prime ministers also talked on the phone and reiterated their commitment to resolve border conflicts through existing bilateral mechanisms, according to the Foreign Ministry's Information Department.
Both parties recalled their earlier meeting on May 14 during the opening ceremony of Route 48, a road linking the two countries and running through to the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh, at a time when Mr Somchai was Thailand's deputy prime minister and education minister.
Relations between the two neighbours have soured since the World Heritage Committee approved Cambodia's application to list the 11th century Preah Vihear temple ruins as a World Heritage site.
The temple is situated between Si Sa Ket's Kantharalak district and Preah Vihear province in Cambodia.
Both countries have long claimed the Hindu temple, but the International Court of Justice awarded the temple to Cambodia in 1962, although the surrounding area remains in dispute.
The stand-off began when Thailand sent troops to the border on July 15 after Thai anti-government demonstrators assembled near the temple.
Cambodia responded by sending its own troops there.
Following the listing, Cambodia has stepped up claims of ownership over further ancient temples along the Thai-Cambodian border, including Ta Moan Thom temple.
