Thursday, 18 November 2010 By Roger Mitton
Phnom Penh Post
Photo by: ....
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva at the signing of visa exemption agreement at the Peace Building in Phnom Penh on Wednesday.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva at the signing of visa exemption agreement at the Peace Building in Phnom Penh on Wednesday.
After visiting Cambodia on Wednesday, Thailand’s Prime Minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva, told The Phnom Penh Post that following a period of confrontation and high tension, the two governments were back on track to rebuild trust in each other.
To cement the trust, Abhisit said he and Prime Minister Hun Sen had agreed to focus on resolving less thorny issues first, before moving on to the hard stuff.
“We agreed to give priority to areas of cooperation where there’s no conflict, so that we can build up trust and confidence,” Abhisit said.
“If you pick the difficult issues first, that can lead to tension and then you move the relationship in the wrong direction.”
Abhisit conceded that the issues that had roiled bilateral ties recently were the disputed Preah Vihear temple and the naming of fugitive former Thai leader Thaksin Shinawatra as an economic adviser to Cambodia.
Since Thaksin’s role had ended in August that issue was now dead, he said.
Preah Vihear was another matter. “It has become an issue that has given rise to a lot of tension,” Abhisit said.
When told that many outsiders were perplexed that a tiny area of isolated land near an ancient temple had brought two ASEAN neighbours close to warfare, he said all governments were always protective of their territory.
But he stressed: “There hasn’t been war. And both sides are anxious to avoid violence.”
Abhisit said overall relations continued to improve, as shown by booming border trade and cooperation on other fronts.
He also spoke of his good personal rapport with Hun Sen and how he valued the experience of the region’s longest-serving elected leader.
“I recognise that Prime Minister Hun Sen has worked with 10 Thai prime ministers,” Abhisit said.
“He has that experience, probably even more than normal politicians, given what he’s been through.”
The two leaders have met four times in the past three months and that has helped build up a good working relationship.
“Over the last three months there has been a vast improvement,” Abhisit said.
But he laughed when asked if he’d like to emulate Hun Sen and stay in power more than a quarter of a century.
“I don’t have any plans to last 25 years,” he said. “Two terms is a good time for me. Six to eight years is long enough to get some things done and set some directions....read the full story in tomorrow’s Phnom Penh Post or see the updated story online from 3PM UTC/GMT +7 hours.
To cement the trust, Abhisit said he and Prime Minister Hun Sen had agreed to focus on resolving less thorny issues first, before moving on to the hard stuff.
“We agreed to give priority to areas of cooperation where there’s no conflict, so that we can build up trust and confidence,” Abhisit said.
“If you pick the difficult issues first, that can lead to tension and then you move the relationship in the wrong direction.”
Abhisit conceded that the issues that had roiled bilateral ties recently were the disputed Preah Vihear temple and the naming of fugitive former Thai leader Thaksin Shinawatra as an economic adviser to Cambodia.
Since Thaksin’s role had ended in August that issue was now dead, he said.
Preah Vihear was another matter. “It has become an issue that has given rise to a lot of tension,” Abhisit said.
When told that many outsiders were perplexed that a tiny area of isolated land near an ancient temple had brought two ASEAN neighbours close to warfare, he said all governments were always protective of their territory.
But he stressed: “There hasn’t been war. And both sides are anxious to avoid violence.”
Abhisit said overall relations continued to improve, as shown by booming border trade and cooperation on other fronts.
He also spoke of his good personal rapport with Hun Sen and how he valued the experience of the region’s longest-serving elected leader.
“I recognise that Prime Minister Hun Sen has worked with 10 Thai prime ministers,” Abhisit said.
“He has that experience, probably even more than normal politicians, given what he’s been through.”
The two leaders have met four times in the past three months and that has helped build up a good working relationship.
“Over the last three months there has been a vast improvement,” Abhisit said.
But he laughed when asked if he’d like to emulate Hun Sen and stay in power more than a quarter of a century.
“I don’t have any plans to last 25 years,” he said. “Two terms is a good time for me. Six to eight years is long enough to get some things done and set some directions....read the full story in tomorrow’s Phnom Penh Post or see the updated story online from 3PM UTC/GMT +7 hours.
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