New Thai foreign minister urges talks with Cambodia

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Saffron-robed Thai monks walk through the 11th century Preah Vihear temple on the Cambodian side of the border with Thailand. Arguments over who owns the ancient ruins in the impoverished Southeast Asian nation continue to dog relations with its larger neighbour even after a ruling by the International Court in 1962 which handed Preah Vihear to Cambodia.

The new Thai foreign minister has called on his Cambodian counterpart to organise border talks.

Kasit Piromya, appointed by new Thai prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, has told Hor Namhong by phone that he will visit Cambodia to discuss an ongoing border dispute.

The two neighbours have been at odds over territory near the Preah Vihear temple, a 900-year-old Khmer temple.

Troops from Cambodia and Thailand clashed on October 15 on disputed land on the border, leaving four people dead.

Hor Namhong says the Thai Foreign Minister also called to convey his best wishes for the new year.