Thai, Cambodian PMs agree to prevent border clashes

PATTAYA, April 10 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen on Friday agreed to find ways to prevent border clashes between the armed forces of the two countries from reoccurring in future.

Both leaders discussed last Friday's border spat on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summits in Thailand's eastern seaside resort town of Pattaya, they expressed regret over the latest clashes near the disputed ancient temple of Preah Vihear in which two Thai and two Cambodian soldiers died and nine Thai soldiers were wounded.

Mr. Abhisit told a press conference after the meeting, the incident happened because of a misunderstanding. He also said the incident would not affect bilateral relations and both countries would use channels of communication if anything similar looked likely to happen again in the future.

The Thai premier said he would also visit Cambodia on April 18 to meet King Norodom Sihamoni, Hun Sen and other senior officials.

Mr. Abhisit meanwhile returned one of seven stolen Cambodian artifacts from the 12th century during the discussion with Hun Sen.

The remaining artifacts will be handed to the Cambodian government during Mr. Abhisit’s official visit.

All seven antiquities were earlier stolen and carried to Thailand, but were seized by customs officials.

Panithan Wattanayakorn, deputy secretary-general to the Thai prime minister said Mr. Abhisit also stressed to Mr. Hun Sen that trade and investment between the two countries would continue, especially on the construction of the Highway 68 project which will link Thailand’s northeastern province of Surin with Cambodia’s Siem Reap province in that country’s northwest.

Construction costs of the highway estimated at US$43.7 million is expected to become a significant boost to an already burgeoning tourism industry in Siem Reap.

Thailand to assist Cambodia with bilateral development projects

BANGKOK, March 3 (TNA) - Thailand's Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej said on Monday his visit to Cambodia had achieved productive bilateral cooperations including projects on energy, infrastructure and business.

After having met with Cambodian Leader Hun Sen, Mr. Samak said Thailand’s assistance to Cambodia would be beneficial to both countries, especially the highway 68 construction project with an additional budget on top of the 1.4 billion baht (US$43.7 million) already allocated.

The road will connect Thailand’s Surin province to Cambodia’s Siem Reap, and seen as an opportunity to boost the tourism industry in the region.

Prime Minister Samak also said Thailand would build a coal-fired power plant on Cambodia's Koh Kong.

The Thai premier also said he had discussed with his Cambodian counterpart border demarcation on overlapping zones which he described as a “win-win situation” if the zones could be developed as tourist attractions.

Both leaders also discussed criminal extradition and Cambodia’s proposal to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization or UNESCO to list the Preah Vihear Temple as a World Heritage site.

Mr. Samak reiterated such a listing would not affect Thailand since it would include only the temple, not its complex. Therefore, the premier believed, it would not affect the demarcation of Thailand and Cambodia.

The International Court of Justice in The Hague in June 1962 judged that Preah Vihear belonged to Cambodia, but Thailand and Cambodia have not yet settled a demarcation agreement on land around the ruins. The temple is approached from the Thai border district of Kantharalak in Si Sa Ket province.