Thai foreign minister to seek bilateral talks on border: statement

Friday, 23 January 2009
Written by Meas Sokchea
The Phnom Penh Post

PAST SUCCESS

A meeting between Hor Namhong and then-Thai Foreign Minister Sompong Amornvivat in November last year saw a reduction in troop levels along both sides of the border. Since then, political instability in Thailand has hindered further negotiations.

Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya will lead a state visit beginning Monday to spearhead renewed negotiations over border dispute.

THAI Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya will lead an official delegation to Cambodia beginning Monday to promote bilateral border negotiations between the two nations' prime ministers, a press release from the Cambodian Foreign Ministry announced Thursday.

Kasit will meet King Norodom Sihamoni and leaders of the ruling Cambodian People's Party in advance of border discussions with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong, the press release stated.

The foreign ministers are expected to address ongoing border conflicts ahead of future discussions between Prime Minister Hun Sen and his Thai counterpart Abhisit Vejjajiva in Thailand during the forthcoming Asean Summit, which runs from February 27 to March 1.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Koy Khuong told the Post Thursday that the Thai delegation's visit aimed to strengthen cooperation between the two countries, as well as to address border concerns and other issues of mutual concern.

Hun Sen said Tuesday during an address in Oddor Meanchey province that he would not address border issues during the Asean Summit, but added that bilateral negotiations with the Thai premier were forthcoming.

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy questioned whether discussions between the heads of state would produce any tangible results.

"Bilateral negotiations cannot resolve matters. Our country is smaller than neighbouring ones, so if we face a neighbour that is larger than us, it is impossible to solve the dispute," Sam Rainsy told the Post Thursday.

"Until the international community steps in to defend Cambodia, we must defend our territorial integrity," he added.

Heang Rithy, president of the Cambodian National Research Organisation, said bilateral negotiations could succeed only if Thailand initiates them and says the country has acted as an invader.

"If Cambodia asks to negotiate, this is not effective and will not end the conflict," he said.

"If Thailand confesses that it has made a mistake, then we can negotiate in accordance with international law and without the UN. But if Thailand continues to be obstinate, only the UN will be able to resolve the conflict," he said.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Koy Khuong said Cambodia will continue to pursue a bilateral solution to the conflict.

"What we have done before, we will continue to do. We will maintain our bilateral stance so that we can talk together. If this path does not work, we will seek a third-party solution," he said.

Thai MFA ready to clarify border dispute on any stage [-Thailand plays tit-for-tat with Cambodia]

Monday October 27, 2008

(BangkokPost.com) - Information Department director-general and Foreign Ministry spokesman Tharit Charungvat believed the international community would be able to read Cambodia’s intent after it accused Thai soldiers of physically damaging Preah Vihear temple.

He noted that when Cambodia responded positively, it would usually expressed another way a day later, such as the brief gunfire between troops from both sides and the landmine incident.

However, he said the Thai side has clear evidence and is ready to clarify all issues relating to the Thai-Cambodian border dispute on any stage.

Referring to the evidence gathered by the Thai authority, Mr Tharit insisted the landmine planted near Preah Vihear that amputated two Thai soldiers on October 16 was definitely new.

Commenting on Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen’s stance at the 7th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in Beijing who said both sides must to be tolerant to prevent clashes and they need to engage in bilateral talks, the spokesman said such stance has always been shown by Thailand.

National world heritage committee chairman Pongpol Adireksarn said it could be possible that Cambodia may want the UN officially to help work out the Thai-Cambodian border row after the country reportedly filed a complaint to the UN.

He said Cambodia would still have to consider the benefits it will get after filing the complaint.

Mr Pongpol believed Cambodia could be trying to use the Preah Vihear case as a political agenda, as the temple is more than a thousand years old and its condition is dilapidating. Thus, it could accuse Thailand of damaging the site to show its patriotism and gain political benefits, he added.

Meanwhile, Thailand's UN Ambassador Don Pramudwinai, meanwhile, said he was not informed about Cambodia’s plan to accuse its neighbouring country of damaging Preah Vihear to the United Nations (UN).