SINGAPORE (AFP) -- Cambodia is hoping the UN Security Council can help resolve a military standoff with Thailand after talks during a meeting of regional foreign ministers made no progress, the head of Cambodia's delegation said Wednesday.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations held crisis talks Tuesday on the border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia, but failed to defuse the row, diplomats said.
""We failed to do that in this meeting in Singapore,"" said Cambodian Secretary of State Kao Kim Hourn.
""So Cambodia, right now, my foreign minister, our government, will take up this issue with the UN Security Council.""
The standoff threatens to escalate into an unprecedented test for the regional bloc.
Thailand's ambassador to the United Nations, Don Pramudwinai, said that the UN Security Council was expected on Thursday to discuss the week-long dispute.
The tensions began after UNESCO at Cambodia's request early this month awarded World Heritage status to the Preah Vihear temple, considered the finest example of ancient Khmer architecture after the famous Angkor Wat complex.
The UN recognition infuriated Thai nationalists, and now more than 500 Thai troops are facing off against at least 1,000 Cambodian soldiers over a tiny area of land on the border near the temple.
Cambodia called Tuesday for the UN to help broker a solution to the standoff.
Negotiations between senior Cambodian and Thai defense officials also ended with no resolution.
""Hopefully... open military confrontation will not take place,"" Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda told reporters on Tuesday.
""We failed to do that in this meeting in Singapore,"" said Cambodian Secretary of State Kao Kim Hourn.
""So Cambodia, right now, my foreign minister, our government, will take up this issue with the UN Security Council.""
The standoff threatens to escalate into an unprecedented test for the regional bloc.
Thailand's ambassador to the United Nations, Don Pramudwinai, said that the UN Security Council was expected on Thursday to discuss the week-long dispute.
The tensions began after UNESCO at Cambodia's request early this month awarded World Heritage status to the Preah Vihear temple, considered the finest example of ancient Khmer architecture after the famous Angkor Wat complex.
The UN recognition infuriated Thai nationalists, and now more than 500 Thai troops are facing off against at least 1,000 Cambodian soldiers over a tiny area of land on the border near the temple.
Cambodia called Tuesday for the UN to help broker a solution to the standoff.
Negotiations between senior Cambodian and Thai defense officials also ended with no resolution.
""Hopefully... open military confrontation will not take place,"" Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda told reporters on Tuesday.
No comments:
Post a Comment