[Thai] PM, Hun Sen set to meet

He [Hun Sen] has voiced confidence that Mr Abhisit will stay in the post for a long time and that the prime minister has grown stronger and proved his leadership skills. -

ONG-ART KLAMPAIBUL PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE MINISTER

Ong-art's visit to Phnom Penh helps boost ties

Published: 4/09/2010
Bangkok Post

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen look set to hold talks later this month to build on the improving ties between the two countries.

Given the potential meeting of the two leaders, the Defence Ministry is considering postponing the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) meeting scheduled for Sept 8-10 in Bangkok, a ministry source said.

Speaking after his return from Cambodia yesterday, Prime Minister's Office Minister Ong-art Klampaibul said the Cambodian prime minister appears keen on the prospect of catching up with Mr Abhisit when they meet at the United Nations General Assembly.

"He said we [Thailand and Cambodia] don't have to wait until the Asia-Europe Meeting (Asem) in October because we will meet in New York on Sept 24," said Mr Ong-art who visited Cambodia on Thursday shortly after the normalisation of diplomatic ties.

Mr Ong-art was only scheduled to meet with the Cambodian information minister during the visit. But he also had a one-hour meeting with Hun Sen.

Ties with Phnom Penh deteriorated over border conflicts and the appointment of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra as economic adviser. They went downhill after Cambodia proposed a management plan for the Preah Vihear temple to the World Heritage Committee that Bangkok opposed.

Bangkok and Phnom Penh recently reinstated their ambassadors after Thaksin resigned from his advisory post.

Mr Ong-art said the Cambodian leader is ready to hold talks on "any issue" with Mr Abhisit. "He has assured that a broker is unnecessary when holding a dialogue with Thailand. Any forum can do."

According to the minister, the Cambodian leader said Thailand and Cambodia were like "tongue and teeth" - a reference to occasional disagreements which should be dealt with amicably.

Mr Ong-art said bilateral relations between the two nations are picking up, citing the bringing forward from Oct 18 to Sept 10 of the Thai ambassador to submit his appointment to Cambodia's king for endorsement.

Both countries have also agreed to carry out journalistic and cultural exchange programmes, he said.

A hotline will be set up as a communications channel between him and the Cambodian information minister in case there are any urgent issues that need to be resolved, he said.

Mr Ong-art added that Hun Sen was full of praise for Mr Abhisit.

The Cambodian prime minister said that Mr Abhisit should not be discouraged by criticism about his early rise to become prime minister.

"He has voiced confidence that Mr Abhisit will stay in the post for a long time and that the prime minister has grown stronger and proved his leadership skills," Mr Ong-art said.

Mr Ong-art said he also explained the legal requirements about the Thai side in working on the JBC and Hun Sen seemed to understand these.

Mr Abhisit, meanwhile, said yesterday that he expects to meet and hold talks with Hun Sen when they meet at international forums later this year.

Mr Abhisit played down Hun Sen's softened stance towards bilateral ties.

Earlier, Hun Sen had accused Thailand of threatening to renege on its acceptance of Cambodia's rights to the Preah Vihear temple and asked the UN to intervene.

Mr Abhisit said that as neighbours both countries are aware that existing disagreements or conflicts must be resolved through talks but certain issues need to proceed at the right time.

Mr Abhisit said he hoped Mr Ong-art's visit to Cambodia would strengthen communications and that the ministers concerned seemed to be working on some mechanisms to reduce tensions caused by misunderstandings.

In a related development, provincial authorities and the private sector in Trat are holding a three-day meeting with their Cambodian counterparts from four provinces to discuss cooperation.

Trat governor Kaenpet Chuangrangsi said the meeting, which will take place on Koh Chang, will discuss matters ranging from border security to health care and trade and tourism. He said that a draft memorandum on cooperation guidelines is expected to be signed at the end of the meeting today.