BANGKOK, Oct 22 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has no plans to interfere in or become a mediator to defuse the conflict between Thailand and Cambodia over the disputed border areas as it believes that the ongoing bilateral mechanism is working well, its foreign minister, Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim, said Wednesday.
"By coming here, we are in no way interfering, and the question of mediator does not arise. But what we are doing is within the Asean solidarity and spirit, and to show the international community that Asean is capable of handling problems like this," Rais said after meeting Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, and his counterpart and deputy prime minister, Sompong Amornvivat, here.
Instead, Rais said, it was to express Malaysia's and other Asean members' concern over the skirmish on Oct 15 along the Thailand-Cambodia disputed border near the ancient Preah Vihear Hindu temple which left two Cambodian and one Thai soldiers dead, and several injured on both sides.
"As Asean members we cannot simply leave this matter to be discussed during summits. When Surin Pitsuwan (Asean secretary-general) called me, I suggested shuttle diplomacy and I briefed the Cabinet on this matter," he said.
Rais said Somchai, who is scheduled to meet his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen on the sidelines of the Asia-Europe Summit in Beijing on Friday and Saturday, was very grateful to Malaysia for its initiative in coming here and expressing its concern over the matter.
Rais said he handed over a letter from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who suggested that Thailand and Cambodia de-escalate the strained relations between them, find an amicalbe solution to the problem, have no armed conflict, uphold Asean solidarity and work within the international law.
The reaction from the prime minister (Somchai) and foreign minister was very encouraging, he said, adding: "I told them Malaysia felt that it was just proper and fitting to express our concern over the incident, especially with casualties on both sides as we don't it to escalate."
Rais said plans are also being made for him to meet Hun Sen in Phnom Penh next week.
The Preah Vihear temple, known as Phra Viharn in Thailand, was named a World Heritage site at a Unesco meeting in Quebec, Canada this year, despite Thai opposition to the listing.
The skirmish came a day after Hun Sen gave an ultimatum for Thai soldiers to be withdrawn from the disputed border area or face war.
Rais said the initiative taken by Malaysia and supported by other Asean members was also a good test for the regional grouping's solidarity and friendship, especially with the Asean Charter which would come into effect once all the members completed their ratification process.
"At the moment, Asean appeared surprised...Asean don't have the necessity experience and instruments to deal with it. So it's a good test that we allow the bilaterial mechanism to work first and at the same time examine how the Asean Charter can work under such circumstances," he said.
Rais said the charter had provisions to deal with such disputes and settlements but could not be tested yet as Thailand and the Philippines had yet to deposit their instruments of ratification.
"Under the charter, we will have a high panel on international law that we can utilise to the fullest," he said.
But he said Malaysia was pleased that both Thailand and Cambodia had taken measures to deal with the problem through amicable means, which he expected to be one of the key issues during the Asean Summit in Bangkok in December.
"We appreciate that the situation has de-escalated. Both the prime minister and my counterpart informed me the the situation is improving, despite the issue of landmines in the area and casualities," he said.
"By coming here, we are in no way interfering, and the question of mediator does not arise. But what we are doing is within the Asean solidarity and spirit, and to show the international community that Asean is capable of handling problems like this," Rais said after meeting Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, and his counterpart and deputy prime minister, Sompong Amornvivat, here.
Instead, Rais said, it was to express Malaysia's and other Asean members' concern over the skirmish on Oct 15 along the Thailand-Cambodia disputed border near the ancient Preah Vihear Hindu temple which left two Cambodian and one Thai soldiers dead, and several injured on both sides.
"As Asean members we cannot simply leave this matter to be discussed during summits. When Surin Pitsuwan (Asean secretary-general) called me, I suggested shuttle diplomacy and I briefed the Cabinet on this matter," he said.
Rais said Somchai, who is scheduled to meet his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen on the sidelines of the Asia-Europe Summit in Beijing on Friday and Saturday, was very grateful to Malaysia for its initiative in coming here and expressing its concern over the matter.
Rais said he handed over a letter from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who suggested that Thailand and Cambodia de-escalate the strained relations between them, find an amicalbe solution to the problem, have no armed conflict, uphold Asean solidarity and work within the international law.
The reaction from the prime minister (Somchai) and foreign minister was very encouraging, he said, adding: "I told them Malaysia felt that it was just proper and fitting to express our concern over the incident, especially with casualties on both sides as we don't it to escalate."
Rais said plans are also being made for him to meet Hun Sen in Phnom Penh next week.
The Preah Vihear temple, known as Phra Viharn in Thailand, was named a World Heritage site at a Unesco meeting in Quebec, Canada this year, despite Thai opposition to the listing.
The skirmish came a day after Hun Sen gave an ultimatum for Thai soldiers to be withdrawn from the disputed border area or face war.
Rais said the initiative taken by Malaysia and supported by other Asean members was also a good test for the regional grouping's solidarity and friendship, especially with the Asean Charter which would come into effect once all the members completed their ratification process.
"At the moment, Asean appeared surprised...Asean don't have the necessity experience and instruments to deal with it. So it's a good test that we allow the bilaterial mechanism to work first and at the same time examine how the Asean Charter can work under such circumstances," he said.
Rais said the charter had provisions to deal with such disputes and settlements but could not be tested yet as Thailand and the Philippines had yet to deposit their instruments of ratification.
"Under the charter, we will have a high panel on international law that we can utilise to the fullest," he said.
But he said Malaysia was pleased that both Thailand and Cambodia had taken measures to deal with the problem through amicable means, which he expected to be one of the key issues during the Asean Summit in Bangkok in December.
"We appreciate that the situation has de-escalated. Both the prime minister and my counterpart informed me the the situation is improving, despite the issue of landmines in the area and casualities," he said.
