Asean talks fail to ease Thai-Cambodia tensions

Thailand's Supreme Commander Gen Boonstrang Niampradit (right) shakes hands with Cambodia's Deputy Premier and Defence Minister Gen Tea Banh. -- PHOTO: AP

ASEAN ministers failed to ease tensions between member states Thailand and Cambodia during crisis talks on Tuesday over an escalating standoff at a disputed historic site, diplomats said.

'Both ministers from Thailand and Cambodia basically gave briefings on the issue,' an Asian diplomat said after the unscheduled lunch meeting during annual Asean ministerial talks.

'Cambodia wants it resolved through Asean but the Thai side wants it resolved bilaterally,' he added.

When asked if any progress had been made towards a resolution, he replied: 'Nothing'.

Envoys said Cambodia had sent a letter to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) this week requesting help to resolve the dispute with Thailand over a section of border near ruins of an 11th-century Hindu temple.

The row, the latest flare-up in a long-running feud which stirs nationalist passions in both countries, escalated on Tuesday when Phnom Penh requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to 'avoid armed confrontation.' Asean Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan said after the lunch meeting that the atmosphere had been 'friendly' but he gave no indication progress had been made.

Statement by Singapore Foreign Affairs Minister George Yeo on the Cambodia-Thailand dispute crisis talks I held informal discussions on 22 July 2008 with Asean Foreign Ministers to discuss the latest developments in the Preah Vihear issue. Both Cambodia and Thailand reiterated that they were committed to a peaceful resolution of the issue and assured me that the General Border Commission would continue to meet, and that the next meeting would be held in the near future. The Asean FMs had earlier offered Asean's facilities at the disposal of Cambodia and Thailand as they recognised the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the region. There was a proposal for an Asean Contact Group to help support the efforts of Thailand and Cambodia to find a peaceful resolution to the issue. The proposal found favour with a number of Foreign Ministers, but there was also a general view that the bilateral process should be allowed to continue, and there is still no consensus for the formation of such a group. The Asean Foreign Ministers remain seized by the issue, and I have requested Cambodia and Thailand to provide an update at the next Informal Asean Ministerial Meeting in New York. Thailand and Cambodia gave the assurance that they would exercise utmost restraint and resolve the issue amicably in the spirit of Asean solidarity and good neighbourliness. Both sides also reiterated that they would handle the situation in accordance with their Asean and international obligations.

'Asean still insisted on the statement that the chairman put out Sunday evening that expects the two sides to find amicable solutions to the issues between them,' he said.

'Asean still stands ready to (give) any support that the two sides want Asean to play. We can't go any further than that.' Asean said on Sunday it had received assurances from both countries that they would show 'utmost restraint' as hundreds of troops from each side were deployed to the disputed area. -- AFP

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