Speaking to government officials in the capital Phnom Penh, Mr Hun Sen said he will raise the issue with Mr Ban during the UN chief's official visit to Cambodia on Oct 27-28. -- PHOTO: AP
PHNOM PENH - CAMBODIA'S Prime Minister said on Thursday he will ask United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to help mediate talks he is proposing to help settle a border dispute with neighbouring Thailand.
Speaking to government officials in the capital Phnom Penh, Mr Hun Sen said he will raise the issue with Mr Ban during the UN chief's official visit to Cambodia on Oct 27-28.
Thailand and Cambodia both claim a 1.8 square mile (4.6 square kilometre) patch of land near the cliff-top Preah Vihear temple. Mr Hun Sen on Monday proposed an international conference to discuss the dispute 'because the bilateral discussion is at an impasse now.' 'We will request the United Nations Secretary-General to be the coordinator,' Mr Hun Sen said on Thursday.
Thailand opposes the idea as unnecessary because a 2000 agreement between the two countries provides the framework for a solution.
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Tuesday accused Cambodia of causing the current problem by moving people onto the disputed land. Both countries have a heavy troop presence in the area and have had several small but sometimes deadly clashes in the past few years.
The International Court of Justice in 1962 ruled that the 11th century temple belongs to Phnom Penh. -- AP
PHNOM PENH - CAMBODIA'S Prime Minister said on Thursday he will ask United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to help mediate talks he is proposing to help settle a border dispute with neighbouring Thailand.
Speaking to government officials in the capital Phnom Penh, Mr Hun Sen said he will raise the issue with Mr Ban during the UN chief's official visit to Cambodia on Oct 27-28.
Thailand and Cambodia both claim a 1.8 square mile (4.6 square kilometre) patch of land near the cliff-top Preah Vihear temple. Mr Hun Sen on Monday proposed an international conference to discuss the dispute 'because the bilateral discussion is at an impasse now.' 'We will request the United Nations Secretary-General to be the coordinator,' Mr Hun Sen said on Thursday.
Thailand opposes the idea as unnecessary because a 2000 agreement between the two countries provides the framework for a solution.
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Tuesday accused Cambodia of causing the current problem by moving people onto the disputed land. Both countries have a heavy troop presence in the area and have had several small but sometimes deadly clashes in the past few years.
The International Court of Justice in 1962 ruled that the 11th century temple belongs to Phnom Penh. -- AP
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