Cambodia, Thai defense chiefs to meet on border cooperation

PHNOM PENH, April 28 (AP) - (Kyodo)—Cambodian and Thai defense ministers met Tuesday in Cambodia's northern province of Siem Reap in an attempt to ease border tensions between the two nations, a senior Cambodian defense official said.

Nem Sowath, chief of staff for Cambodia's defense minister, told Kyodo News by telephone that technical teams from the two countries also met Tuesday to pave the way for further discussions by the defense chiefs on Wednesday.

Nem Sowath said issues of border and military cooperation are on the agenda and both governments are committed to avoiding military clashes.

Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Banh and his Thai counterpart Prawit Wongsuwon jointly chair the General Border Commission between Cambodia and Thailand.

The commission holds annual meetings alternately in Cambodia and Thailand. Last year's meeting was held in Thailand.

Cambodian and Thai troops began confronting each other near Cambodia's ancient temple of Preah Vihear in July last year. There have been several gun battles and numerous soldiers from both sides have been killed or injured.

The confrontation covers an area of 4.6 square kilometers of territory disputed by the two countries. Both sides have refused for nearly 10 months to back away from their positions.

Cambodian, Thai officials to meet for border talks in April

Thursday, 26 March 2009
Written by Cheang Sokha and Brendan Brady
The Phnom Penh Post

Maritime boundary disputes will not be on the agenda at Siem Reap meetings, say officials.

CAMBODIAN and Thai officials are to resume formal talks to negotiate the demarcation of their shared land border in early April, officials from both countries said Wednesday.

Representatives from both sides of the Joint Border Commission (JBC) are to meet in Siem Reap from April 5-7, said Var Kimhong, Cambodia's top border negotiator.

The schedule was confirmed by the Thai Foreign Affairs Ministry's Department of Treaties and Legal Affairs Boundary Division.

Cambodia and Thailand have never fully demarcated their 805-kilometre shared border, although the JBC has agreed upon the location of 48 border markers out of the 73 that lie along the border.

Both sources rejected media reports that the two sides would also discuss maritime areas claimed by both sides.

The Thai State News Agency had earlier cited Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya as saying the sea border would be on the agenda.

"We have not yet fixed the date for that meeting," said Var Kimhong.

Maritime dispute

Tentative plans to demarcate the sea border had been raised when Kasit met with Cambodian Foreign Affairs Minister Hor Namhong in January, he said.

Cambodia and Thailand both claim some 27,000 square kilometres of disputed maritime territory in the Gulf of Thailand, which is believed to contain significant oil and natural gas reserves.

The expanse of water known as the Overlapping Claims Area, or OCA, has been the source of a contentious, decades-old dispute with Thailand that has gained a new imperative following the outbreak of last year's border dispute.

Oil experts say Cambodia is likely to resist simply splitting the area down the middle because the Thai half could hold far better prospects.

A former Thai vice admiral was cited in Thai media last July as cautioning that the recognition of Cambodian land claims would pave the way for Cambodia to assert more control over the contested waters and their anticipated riches.

Border meeting 'better than expected', says Vasin

Vasin: Avoid political games

Sunday November 23, 2008
Bangkok Post

ON THE Record

Vasin Teeravechyan, chairman of the Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission (JBC), talks to THANIDA TANSUBHAPOL about the latest attempts to resolve the border spat and the challenges ahead.

What were your impressions before and after the JBC meeting on Nov 10-12 in Siem Reap?

Before the meeting, I thought there would be many problems and I didn't expect much would be achieved, but the results were quite good. I thought Cambodia understood Thailand well enough and the meeting avoided sensitive issues, for example whether to call the temple Preah Vihear or Phra Viharn. Each side knew each other's weaknesses and sought a compromise. The meeting was good but I don't know how long both countries can avoid touching on the sensitive issues.

If the pending issues [the name of the temple and reduction of troops] are not approved by parliament in this session, will it affect the negotiations?

I think it will pass parliament in this session. Other issues which were already agreed by both countries should have no problem moving forward. For example, the issue on the start of an immediate field survey and border demarcation at Preah Vihear temple or the setting up of a coordinating group to take care of future problems could begin immediately because they are explainable. If parliament does not agree, we could tackle these issues with Cambodia.

What would the result be if there was no Article 190 in the constitution?

Certainly, negotiations would be much easier. We used to do bilateral negotiations informally before requesting parliamentary approval when everything has been settled. Things are a little different now because we are required to consult parliament first for an approved framework for negotiation.

The point is we are handling these negotiations with the best intentions. But when people [who are opposed to the ministry's position] refuse to listen to our explanations, they close themselves off from the other sides of the issue.

I have met former deputy foreign minister Sukhumbhand Paribatra and asked him to tell the Democrat party about the Preah Vihear temple issue. I also plan to meet many people to talk about this issue. If issues like this are pulled into a political game, the country cannot survive.

Should the JBC conduct border surveys and demarcation in other areas concurrently with the area near Preah Vihear temple?

Yes, I think so, otherwise the border demarcation process will be delayed. The two survey and demarcation teams should start together. Both sides have agreed on this but have not yet decided on other areas apart from Preah Vihear.

Do you see a change in position by Phnom Penh after finishing the first round of talks?

Yes. The Phnom Penh government showed its commitment to resolving the border problems. It cannot be rushed. If either side tries to rush, it will be at a disadvantage, because they are lots of details to discuss.

Compared to other borders Thailand shares with its neighbours, does the Thai-Cambodian border have more problems?

It does have more problems than the Thai-Lao border. But in fact, all borders have problems because the agreements which Thailand has had with France and the UK in the past were quite rough. When we pointed to the watershed on the map, it was not precise. Sometimes we could not find the names in the new maps, so we have to survey the areas physically to verify the locations before demarcation can be finalised.

When will we use the maps for the discussions?

We hope to do that once the survey teams have completed their work. But the more we touch on the maps, the more problems will arise [because Thailand and Cambodia use different maps as their references].

When you decided to accept this position (Chairman of JBC), what were you most concerned about?

It was the different ideas of people around the country. I was quite stressed because I had to think of people first before doing anything. I also reaffirmed with Foreign Minister Sompong Amornvivat and everyone I met that I would not get involved in politics.

Cambodian, Thai foreign ministers hold border talks

12 November 2008
AFP

SIEM REAP, Cambodia: The foreign ministers of Cambodia and Thailand held talks Wednesday aimed at resolving a long-running and deadly border dispute.

Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong and his Thai counterpart Sompong Amornviwat met after negotiators struggled this week to agree how to defuse a four-month military stand-off and resolve competing territorial claims.

Negotiating teams from both countries began talks Monday at a hotel in Cambodia's tourist hub Siem Reap, drawing up plans for discussions between the two foreign ministers.

This week the countries agreed to jointly demarcate land and remove landmines as soon as possible from their disputed border around the 11th-century Preah Vihear temple.

But the leader of Cambodia's delegation said Tuesday that both sides "need more time and high-level decisions" to make real progress.

Shortly after earlier talks between the foreign ministers failed last month, troops from the two countries clashed on October 15 on disputed land near the ancient Khmer temple, killing one Thai and three Cambodians.

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.

The most recent tensions began in July when the Khmer temple was awarded United Nations World Heritage status, rekindling a long-running disagreement over ownership of the surrounding land.

Sompong discusses border framework in Cambodia

Wednesday November 12, 2008

(BangkokPost.com) - Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sompong Amornvivat travelled to Cambodia on Wednesday to discuss the meeting framework concerning the Thai-Cambodian border row after both countries’ Joint Border Committee (JBC) meeting went smoothly earlier this week.

Before leaving for Cambodia, Mr Sompong said he and Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen will determine further proceedings after the second round of the JBC meeting discussed different issues such as boundary demarcation and the reduction of arms and troops from the two sides.

The foreign minister said both sides will try to find an agreement on demarcating the border areas to prevent the two countries from making conflicting statements.

Cambodia and Thailand continue border talks

Thai troops inside Khmer temple?

12 November 2008
MCOT

The foreign ministers of Cambodia and Thailand are scheduled to meet Wednesday in Cambodia’s Siem Riep, aimed at resolving their border dispute. Officials of the two neighbours made it clear they would make it a priority to demarcate territory around the 11th century temple as soon as it was cleared of landmines.

The Cambodain -Thai Joint Boundary Commission or JBC ended a two-day meeting on Tuesday, to draw up an agenda for discussions between their foreign ministers on Wednesday. The talks are aimed at ending a four month military stand-off, which escalated into a shootout near Preah Vihear temple, in mid October killing one Thai and three Cambodians.

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. Officials need to be very careful in their survey operation to find boundary posts in accordance with an agreement between the two countries in 2000.

Thai officials from the Royal Thai Survey Department, which is responsible for working with Cambodian officials to conduct the survey, said the border demarcation was a painstaking process.

"Cambodian and Thai officials use the same maps in the joint operation to demarcate the border, but we sometimes have different opinions when we interpret maps and the treaty," Royal Thai Survey Deptartmenet official Col. Chakorn Boonpakdee said.

Thailand and Cambodia share an almost 800 kilometre land border 100 years ago, Thailand and France placed 73 markers along the border from Thailand’s Si Sa Ket to Trad. However, the marker were located far apart and almost half were destroyed or removed. As a result, the two countries have not been able to specify the border line at many point.

In 2006, Cambodia and Thailand started a new survey in line with the Siam- France Treaty of 1904 . According to the agreement between Thailand and Cambodia, the joint survey began in Sa Kaew and would later move north to other provinces including Si Sa Ket, where this year’s border dispute near Preah Vihear temple erupted.

"Our survey operation doesn’t aim to benefit any side but we do it for clear border demarcation and justice of the two sides," Royal Thai Survey Deptartmant official Col. Pratya Nakhonkao said.

The joint survey so far had found 48 of the 73 century old boundary posts and now the survey was under way in Trat.

Cambodia, Thailand make little progress in talks: negotiator

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

SIEM REAP, Cambodia (AFP) — Cambodian and Thai negotiators made little progress Tuesday in talks aimed at resolving a long-running and deadly border dispute, said the leader of Cambodia's delegation.

Officials from both sides met at a hotel in Cambodia's tourist hub Siem Reap to draw up an agenda for discussions between foreign ministers from the two countries, which are scheduled for Wednesday.

The meetings went five hours past schedule, and lead Cambodian negotiator Va Kimhong said both sides struggled to find points of agreement.

"We need more time and high-level decisions," Va Kimhong told reporters after meeting finished, adding, "what we have agreed is positive."

Both sides agreed to determine by December exactly where the border between their countries was drawn a century ago by French colonial officials, he said.

Negotiators also agreed that their countries would jointly remove landmines in the disputed area around the 11th century Preah Vihear temple, Va Kimhong added.

The three-day talks aim to end a four-month military stand-off and begin the process of hammering out competing territorial claims.

Shortly after earlier talks failed last month, troops from the two countries clashed on October 15 on disputed land near Cambodia's ancient Preah Vihear temple, killing one Thai and three Cambodians.

Two rounds of emergency talks after the October clashes made little progress, with both sides only agreeing not to fire on each other again.

The Cambodian government has since announced that it plans to double its military budget next year to 500 million dollars.

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.

The most recent tensions began in July when the 11th century Khmer temple was awarded United Nations World Heritage status, rekindling a long-running disagreement over ownership of the surrounding land.

JBC to focus first on border near Preah Vihear

November 12, 2008
By Suparak Ganjanakhundee
The Nation, Siem Reap

The Thai-Cambodia Joint Commission on Demarcation for Land Boundary (JBC) yesterday agreed to give priority to the disputed areas near the Preah Vihear Temple.

A technical team would survey and measure the areas near the temple first, said the Cambodian co-chairman of the JBC, Var Kimhong, after the meeting.

Vasin Teeravechyan co-chair of the JBC on the Thai side said the area near Preah Vihear, 168 km in length, had not been demarcated yet.

Technical teams would be dispatched to find the location of the first boundary pillar as soon as possible, Vasin said.

Thailand and Cambodia have a 798-km boundary. Most of the boundary line, with the exception of the area near Preah Vihear, was demarcated since the 1904 and 1907 Siam-French treaties. However, nature has changed the boundary line over the years and some boundary pillars were destroyed.

Based on the memorandum of understanding on boundary demarcation in 2000, the two countries made a series of surveys to search for the old boundary pillars in 2006.

The JBC meeting yesterday also acknowledged the result of the survey to locate the 23rd-51st of the boundary pillars, Vasin said.

The meeting was held in a good atmosphere and both sides can reach common ground, both Vasin and Var Kimhong said separately.

The area in Preah Vihear's vicinity became a priority after the recent military clash. It was at the core of the conflict since July when Thailand opposed the nomination of the Khmer sanctuary as a World Heritage Site and both sides boosted troop presence in the areas.

A border skirmish last month killed four soldiers on both sides and injured many others.

Foreign Minister Sompong Amornwiwat and his Cambodian counterpart Hor Namhong will discuss today the issues of provisional arrangement for the disputed areas near Preah Vihear, including military redeployment and de-mining, Var Kimhong said.

Fresh talks on border begin in Siem Reap

Tuesday, 11 November 2008
Written by Thet Sambath and Cheang Sokha
The Phnom Penh Post

CAMBODIAN and Thai officials began a fresh round of border talks Monday in Siem Reap, with Cambodian delegates saying that a "big step" had been made in hammering out an agenda to resolve the standoff over contested land that erupted in violence last month, killing four.

"We have moved forward with a big step in resolving the border issue," said Var Kimhong, head of Cambodia's border committee.

He added that the two countries would make it a priority to demarcate territory around the 11th-century temple as soon as it is cleared of land mines.

"We have also agreed to determine the location that needs to be measured in area around Preah Vihear temple," he said.

Koy Kuong, undersecretary of state at the Foreign Ministry, said earlier he was confident the talks would lead to a decision on the disputed border around the temple.

"The border issue will be resolved step-by-step," he said. The three-day talks will end Wednesday with a meeting between the two foreign ministers in the latest bid to resolve tensions that erupted after Unesco designated Preah Vihear a World Heritage site in July.

Resolve issue for good: RCAF

RCAF General Chea Saran, said Monday that while the situation was a lot more "normal" than before, leaders should try to reach a permanent solution.

"It is getting better now, but we hope the problem gets solved by top leaders," he said. "If they [Thai soldiers] withdraw ... things will return to normal for good."

Cambodia, Thailand continue border talks

11 November 2008
AFP

SIEM REAP: Cambodian and Thai negotiators met Tuesday for a second day of talks aimed at resolving a long-running border dispute which last month erupted into a shootout that claimed four lives.

Officials from both sides met at a hotel in Cambodia's tourist hub Siem Reap to draw up an agenda for discussions between foreign ministers from the two countries, which are scheduled for Wednesday.

The three-day talks aim to end a four-month military stand-off and begin the process of hammering out competing territorial claims.

Cambodia's lead negotiator said the two sides made a "big step" when they agreed to an agenda to defuse tensions as talks began on Monday.

Shortly after earlier talks failed last month, troops from the two countries clashed on October 15 on disputed land near Cambodia's ancient Preah Vihear temple, killing one Thai and three Cambodians.

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.

The most recent tensions began in July when the 11th century Khmer temple was awarded United Nations World Heritage status, rekindling a long-running disagreement over ownership of the surrounding land.

Cambodia, Thailand begin fresh talks on border issue

PHNOM PENH, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian and Thai officials started a fresh round of border talks in Siem Reap to hammer out an agenda to resolve the standoff over disputed land, national media reported Tuesday.

"We have moved forward with a big step in resolving the border issue," Var Kimhong, head of Cambodia's border committee, was quoted by the Phnom Penh Post as saying.

He added that the two countries would make it a priority to demarcate territory around the 11th-century temple as soon as it is cleared of land mines.

"We have also agreed to determine the location that needs to be measured in area around Preah Vihear temple," he said.

The three-day talks will end Wednesday with a meeting between the two foreign ministers in the latest bid to resolve the border dispute.

In July, tensions at the Cambodian-Thai border ran high after Cambodia's ancient Preah Vihear Temple was awarded world heritage status by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization), angering nationalists in Thailand who still claim ownership of the site.

The tension later turned into a military stalemate, in which up to 1,000 Cambodian and Thai troops faced off for several weeks.

In 1962, the International Court of Justice decided that the Preah Vihear Temple and its surrounding area belong to Cambodia.

Cambodian, Thai negotiators meet for second day of talks

November 11, 2008
ABC Radio Australia

Cambodian and Thai negotiators have met for a second day of talks aimed at resolving a long-running border dispute which last month erupted into a shootout that claimed four lives.

The three-day talks aim to end a four-month military stand-off and begin the process of hammering out competing territorial claims.

Cambodia's lead negotiator says the two sides made a "big step" when they agreed to an agenda to defuse tensions as talks began on Monday.

Shortly after earlier talks failed last month, troops from the two countries clashed over disputed land near Cambodia's ancient Preah Vihear temple.

Cambodia, Thailand agree on border dispute agenda

November 11, 2008
ABC Radio Australia

One Thai soldier and three Cambodian troops died in the clash near the ancient Preah Vihear temple.

Cambodia's lead negotiator has described the agenda agreement as a "big step".

Officials from the two countries have been meeting in the Cambodian city of Siem Reap.

The talks -- set to last three days -- are aimed at sorting out the territorial claims and ending the military stand-off.

The foreign ministers of both countries are scheduled to meet on Wednesday.

Two rounds of emergency talks after the October clashes made little progress, with both sides only agreeing not to fire on each other again.

Cambodia, Thailand begin border talks

Monday, November 10, 2008
AFP

Cambodia and Thailand made a "big step" by agreeing to an agenda to resolve a long-running border dispute that erupted in deadly fighting last month, Cambodia's lead negotiator said.

Officials from the two countries met in the Cambodian tourist hub of Siem Reap to begin three days of talks aimed at hammering out territorial claims and ending a four-month military stand-off that spilled into a deadly shootout near the ancient Preah Vihear temple last month.

"We have moved forward with a big step in resolving the border issue," Va Kimhong, head of Cambodia's border committee, told reporters at the end of a meeting in which the two sides agreed to an agenda for defusing tensions.

The negotiator added the two countries would make it a priority to demarcate territory around the 11th century Khmer temple as soon as it is cleared of landmines.

"We have also agreed to determine the location that needs to be measured in area around Preah Vihear temple," he said.

In earlier opening remarks, Mr Va said only about 60 per cent of the border between the two countries had been demarcated, despite an agreement to have lines properly drawn by the end of 2006.

"It is so important that both our countries should have clear border lines in order to solve the problem and avoid incidents," he said.

He called for both sides to cooperate in a friendly manner and "avoid using weapons and armed forces."

The foreign ministers of both countries are scheduled to meet on Wednesday, officials said.

Shortly after a round of talks failed last month, troops from the two countries clashed on October 15 on disputed land near the temple, killing one Thai soldier and three Cambodian troops.

Two rounds of emergency talks after the October clashes made little progress, with both sides only agreeing not to fire on each other again.

The Cambodian government has since announced that it plans to double its military budget next year to 500 million dollars.

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.

The most recent tensions between the neighbours began in July when the temple was awarded UN World Heritage status, rekindling a long-running disagreement over ownership of the surrounding land.

Fresh Thai-Cambodia border talks

Monday, 10 November 2008
By Jonathan Head
BBC News, Bangkok

Senior Thai and Cambodian officials have started two days of negotiations over their disputed border.

It is the first high-level meeting since their armed forces clashed near an ancient temple last month, causing the deaths of three soldiers.

Thailand has selected one of its most experienced officials to head its team for this meeting.

It is an attempt to break the deadlock over the 800km (500-mile) border - but progress is predicted to be slow.

The dispute centres on a small piece of land around the ancient temple at Preah Vihear, but has now spread to other parts of the border.

Cambodia stands by a map drawn up a century ago by French cartographers, which clearly puts the temple and the surrounding land inside its territory.

It was this map that Cambodia used in its successful case at the International Court of Justice in 1962.

Thailand argues that it never recognised the map, and that while it accepts the ICJ verdict on the temple itself, the area next to it is still disputed.

Troops from both countries are now confronting each other from trenches dug recently in this strip of land.

The talks could make some headway by reducing the tensions between the two sides, and thus the likelihood of repeated clashes.

But with nationalist sentiment now fired up in both countries, neither government is yet ready to make the concessions necessary for a permanent demarcation of their troubled border.

Cambodia and Thailand restart border talks

Monday, November 10, 2008

SIEM REAP, Cambodia (AFP) — Cambodian and Thai negotiators on Monday resumed talks aimed at resolving a long-running border dispute which last month spilled over into fighting that claimed four lives.

The officials met at a hotel in Cambodia's tourist hub of Siem Reap for three days of negotiations in an attempt to end a four-month military stand-off and to begin to hammer out their competing territorial claims.

"We hope we finally find an agreement to reach the end of tensions," Cambodian foreign affairs ministry spokesman Koy Kuong told AFP.

The foreign ministers of both countries are scheduled to meet on Wednesday, officials said.

Shortly after a round of talks failed last month, troops from the two countries clashed on October 15 on disputed land near Cambodia's ancient Preah Vihear temple, killing one Thai and three Cambodians.

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.

The most recent tensions began in July when the 11th century Khmer temple was awarded United Nations World Heritage status, rekindling a long-running disagreement over ownership of the surrounding land.

Vasin the key player in border talks

Vasin: Took up challenge

Monday November 10, 2008
THANIDA TANSUBHAPOL
Bangkok Post

When Thai and Cambodian officials sit down for talks to end their border dispute today and tomorrow in Siem Reap, the spotlight will be on Vasin Teeravechyan.

The low-profile Mr Vasin has been picked to lead the Thai delegation on the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) to face his Cambodian counterpart Var Kim Hong, Prime Minister Hun Sen's adviser and senior minister.

Mr Vasin came out of retirement for this role, having been the Thai ambassador to South Korea in his last position.

He was approached late last month by permanent secretary for foreign affairs Virasakdi Futrakul and his former boss Saroj Chavanaviraj to take up what is a sensitive post, given the rocky relations between Thailand and Cambodia now.

He accepted because he wanted to help his country end the conflict.

The head of the JBC delegation is normally a deputy foreign minister. But since Thailand does not currently have one, Mr Vasin's position is the closest equivalent.

He has made it clear that he is not involved in politics and has no personal relationship with Foreign Minister Sompong Amornvivat.

The appointment of Mr Vasin, 60, has raised hopes among ministry officials. Many see him as the right choice because of his past experience in handling border demarcation issues with neighbouring countries.

"We are very glad to have someone who is knowledgeable about the border problems with Cambodia to lead the negotiations, rather than a politician with no background in such issues," one ministry official said.

Mr Vasin has strong credentials both in education and work experience.

A law graduate from Chulalongkorn University, he spent 37 years working at the ministry, most of the time handling legal matters at the Treaties and Legal Affairs Department.

He started as a junior officer working in different divisions, and gradually gathered his diplomatic skills and experience until becoming director-general of the department in 1997.

As director-general, Mr Vasin helped the department pave the way for border negotiations with neighbouring countries.

He also helped prepare the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on land border demarcation between Thailand and Cambodia in 2000.

But he left to become ambassador to the Netherlands before the signing and then moved to the South Korean post.

The MoU will be used as a framework for the JBC at the two-day meeting in Cambodia.

Under the MoU, the two sides have agreed to separate the work of demarcation into seven sections along the 798km border and will discuss the field survey and demarcation of non-disputed areas first. Troubled areas, such as the 4.6 sq km near Preah Vihear temple, are expected to be discussed later. Thailand uses the same negotiation framework with Laos and Malaysia.

Temple talks

Monday November 10, 2008
By Saritdet Marukatat and Thanida Tansubhapol
Bangkok Post

After deadly violence on the border and an ongoing diplomatic spat over the area near the Preah Vihear temple, Thailand and Cambodia move to the negotiating table for two days - a meeting of the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) in Siem Reap.

The talks beginning on Monday aim to end the dispute over land near the temple, but Foreign Ministry Officials say early agreement is unlikely.

At the centre of the dispute is sovereignty over a 4.6-square-kilometre area between Kantharalak district in Si Sa Ket province and Preah Vihear province in Cambodia, adjacent to the ancient Khmer temple.

Foreign Ministry officials agree the issue will not be settled at a single round of talks because the two sides cannot even agree on which map to use. They both use different maps as the basis for their negotiations.

Thailand's position is that the watershed should define the border in the area near the temple, but Cambodia rejects this.

"I have lots of documents ready to counter Cambodia's point of view," Treaties and Legal Affairs Department director-general Virachai Plasai told a public forum organised by Chulalongkorn University's Institute of Asian Studies on Thursday.

He is one of the Thai negotiators led by retired career diplomat Vasin Teeravechyan. The Cambodian delegation is led by Senior Minister Var Kim Hong, an adviser to Prime Minister Hun Sen.

The two countries gave priority to the JBC talks after the Preah Vihear temple received World Heritage listing in July. Thailand lost a World Court battle for ownership of the temple in 1962.

Thai officials are prepared for heated negotiations today and tomorrow, but say at least they are at the same table, and that should ease tensions at the border and in the two capitals.

"The aim of the meeting is to bring the conflict to the negotiating table," said a ministry official.

Hard-fought negotiations were better than fighting, another official added.

The crucial talks will be followed by a meeting between the two foreign ministers, Sompong Amornvivat and Hor Namhong, on Wednesday.

The row over Preah Vihear has spilled over into other spots along the 798-kilometre-long land border, including the Ta Muen and Ta Kwai temples. Thailand insists the temples are in Surin province's Phanom Dong Rak district.

The tension heightened after fighting between Thai and Cambodia soldiers on Oct 15 in the overlapping area as well as in Pha Mor E Daeng in Si Sa Ket.

Cambodia has complained to other countries that Thailand invaded its territory.

Bangkok's counter-moves include calling international attention to new landmines allegedly planted near Preah Vihear by Cambodia.

Hun Sen vowed to strengthen Cambodia's armed forces yesterday as he joined the country's king in celebrating the 55th anniversary of independence from France.

Speaking at an Independence Day parade, he made no mention of the border conflict but vowed to "push ahead with reform of the armed forces to ensure highly effective defence" of Cambodian territory. (With reports by AP)

Thailand, Cambodia to confer on border dispute next week

BANGKOK, Nov 3 (TNA) - Border negotiators from Thailand and its neighbour Cambodia will hold a two-day meeting, November 10 and 11, at the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) level for the first time to resolve border conflict, the Thai foreign ministry announced Monday.

Department of Information director-general Tharit Charungvat, in his capacity as spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the meeting will be held in Cambodia's province of Siem Reap.

The meeting is being organised after a joint session of Thailand's House of Representatives and Senate on October 28 gave the green light to the proposed framework and approved a clear mandate for the JBC to negotiate with Cambodia on talks to settle the disruptive border dispute between the two countries.

Discussions dealing with the short-term problem will focus on avoiding confrontations between soldiers of the two countries at disputed border areas, especially in the vicinity of the ancient Preah Vihear temple which was the scene of the latest clash on October 15.

Mr. Tharit said foreign ministers of the two countries will meet on Nov. 12 also in Siem Reap to discuss border conflict between the two countries.

Both men may also confer on Ta Muen Thom and Ta Kwai Krabey temple ruins, two other disputed sites which sit on border of the two countries, said Mr. Tharit.

He said officials of the two countries may discuss troop reductions before or during the next week's JBC meeting.

Border demarcation between the two countries has never been fully implemented due to landmines planted along the border during decades of war inside Cambodia.

Cambodia uses a French colonial map to demarcate the border, which Thailand says favours Cambodia. Thailand relies on a map drawn up later with US technical assistance, which Cambodia says favours Thailand.