Defence Minister visits Cambodia

Thai defence minister visits Cambodia

BANGKOK, Feb 6 (TNA) - Thai Defence Minsiter Gen. Prawit Wongsuwan left Bangkok Friday morning for Phnom Penh for his first official visit to Cambodia after assuming his post in December, but he has asserted that he would not raise ongoing border disputes in his introductory talks with Cambodian military leaders. Gen. Prawit told reporters before leaving the Thai capital that his trip was intended as his introduction to Cambodian military leaders, and that he expected also to introduce the Thai commanders who are responsible for the Thai-Cambodian border talks. However, he said that no discussions would take place regarding the border disputes, as the Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) is working to resolve the outstanding issues. The boundary commission met in Bangkok this week without making any headway. Thailand and Cambodia could not agree on the name of the surveillance group to be stationed in the area or an official name for the temple. The JBC will next meet in the second week of April in Cambodia. The Thai defence minister was accompanied by Defence Permanent Secretary Gen. Apichart Penkitti; Supreme Comander Gen. Songkitti Jaggabatara and military top brass including the Burapa and Suranaree Task Force commanders. Cambodian Deputy Defence Minister Gen Neang Phat was scheduled to welcome when the Thai defence minister and his entourage arrived. Gen. Prawit wil meet his Cambodian counterpart Gen. Tea Banh who is also deputy prime minister, and will make a courtesy call on Prime Minister Hun Sen at the Cambodian Foreign Ministry. In the evening, Gen Tea Banh will host dinner for the Thai delegates before they return to Bangkok. Tension at the Thai-Cambodian border rose after Preah Vihear was awarded heritage status by the United Nations last year. The International Court of Justice ruled in 1962 that the 11th-century temple belongs to Cambodia, but the demarcation of the surrounding land remains in dispute. (TNA) ------------------------------------------------------------

By: BangkokPost.com

Published: 6/02/2009

Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan left for Phnom Penh on Friday morning to meet his Cambodian counterpart for talks aimed at withdrawing troops from disputed land around Preah Vihear temple.

"The meeting will discuss troop pullbacks in order to return the situation to normal," Cambodian General Neang Phat told AFP news agency.

Accompanying Gen Prawit were Defence Permanent Secretary Apichart Penkitti, Supreme Commander Songkitti Jaggabatara and military top brass from Burapa and Suranaree task force commanders.

Gen Prawit and his entourage were scheduled to meet with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and other high ranking officials during his day-long visit to Phnom Penh.