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.
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.
So stupid, why Khmer must negotiat with Siam? No need any new agreements at all, our border was clearly marked and acepted by international. If Siam still want to make us agree with Siam's new map, we must not talk to them any more, just take the case to ICJ again to see who is the loser?
ReplyDeleteAnd that's it, Siam will stop do stupidly invade Khmer land again.
rule by Hun like evil man try to sole home land to Viet Cong and thai ,all khmer seem to lost what we called lost right to defend own home . border crisis ,what kind map to work with thai ,another earth of cambodia was YUON ALREADY CUTED AND TAKEN AND ALSO COUNTRY WIDE HAD SOLE TO THAI AND VIET .
ReplyDeleteMILITARY ALSO YUON AND HAD WEAPON IN THEI HOME BUT KHGMER PEOPLE ARE NO RIGHT TO HAVE WEAPON .
HOPE PREDICK SAID HUN WILL BE HAD ACIDENT BY LOST RIGHT FRONT TIRE AND FALLEN INTO VALEY ALONG ROAD # 4 NATIONAL ROAD .MAY GOD DAM HIM SOON AS POSSIBLE LIKE HOK LANDY AS EVIL MAN IN SOUTHEARTH ASIA.
Cambodia doesn't belong on the mountain.
ReplyDeleteSome points to consider:
ReplyDelete- Where was the white-zone or no-man zone before the border dispute and military standoff between the two countries? And after the negotiatons?
- Siam doesn't agree to use the "map internationally recognized". What does this mean? Seek concession from the khmer government? And why do Cambodia needs to negotiate? On what objectives?
- The results from negotiations and any practices must get approval from the Siam Paliament! That means Siam seeks the ONLY the advantages from the negotiation and neglecting the map internationally recognized, THIS AMBITION WILL YIELD SUCCESSFUL ULTIMATE RESULT FROM THE STUPIDY OR SECRET AGREEMENT MADE BY CAMBODIA SIDE!
Conclusion:
- Siam has the evil-intention to seek advantages from the negotiations. And it means that the more negotiations the more and more white-zones entering Cambodia soil. And if THE SO-CALLED NEGOTIATION IS NOT THE ACT OF CEDING LAND TO FOREIGN COUNTRY, WHAT IN BETTER TERM SHOULD IT BE CALLED?
"In good intention and wisdom we follow."
Tell me if I am wrong.
You're wrong. You greedy monkeys don't belong on the mountain, period.
ReplyDelete4:48 AM you are right. "Cambodia doesn't belong on the mountain"
ReplyDeleteThe mountain belongs to Cambodia. THE END.
4:48 am & 12:31 pm.
ReplyDeleteAre your vocabularies limited? Say somethings more interesting than the same words over and over(I noticed).
I'm so interested to hear your opinion.