BANGKOK, Feb 22 – Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said on Tuesday that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) resolved to send observers to the border of Thailand and Cambodia, while both neighbours pledged in the regional pact meeting that there would be no more clashes on the disputed border.
Speaking by telephone from Jakarta after the ASEAN foreign ministers meeting, Mr Kasit said both countries accepted the ASEAN decision to send 15 Indonesian observers to man each side of the border.
Mr Kasit added the regional grouping will discuss again the role of the observer team.
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva meanwhile said the Jakarta ASEAN foreign ministers meeting also agreed that Thailand and Cambodia should use a bilateral mechanism to end their border conflict, including the Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission (JBC), the General Border Committee (GBC) and the Regional Border Committee (RBC).
Mr Abhisit however said Cambodia has yet to reply as to whether it will attend the upcoming JBC meeting in Thailand at the end of this month.
“Regarding the ASEAN resolution to send its observer team to the border, this does not mean that a third country has intervened in the dispute,” asserted the Thai premier. “The matter should end at ASEAN and Cambodia should not bring the issue to the United Nations again.”
Mr Abhisit said he believed the ASEAN resolution could help ease situation at the Thai-Cambodian border at a certain level, adding that the presence of ASEAN observers and the visit of the UNESCO special envoy to Bangkok and Phnom Penh will allow them to hear information from both sides.
The problem must be jointly resolved for a sustainable solution even though it takes time, he stated.
Tension along the Thai-Cambodian border was renewed after clashes between soldiers of the two countries erupted near the ancient Preah Vihear temple on Feb 4, leading to casualties among the troops and civilians of both sides, as well as forcing the evacuation of villagers living in and on both sides of the disputed area.
The Thai premier made the statement after Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, as current ASEAN chair, said Indonesia will observe the borders of Thailand and Cambodia, noting the decision is considered the first time that the regional pact involves itself in the conflicts of member countries and and has contributed to providing a solution.
"Indonesia will observe on both sides of the border... This is an observer team, not a peacekeeping or peace enforcement team. The observer team will be unarmed," he told reporters after the talks.
The schedule has yet been set for the arrival of the observers. The Indonesian foreign minister added his country will also take part in bilateral talks between Thailand and Cambodia as requested by both sides.
The first meeting will be held in Indonesia but the date will be set later. (MCOT online news)
Speaking by telephone from Jakarta after the ASEAN foreign ministers meeting, Mr Kasit said both countries accepted the ASEAN decision to send 15 Indonesian observers to man each side of the border.
Mr Kasit added the regional grouping will discuss again the role of the observer team.
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva meanwhile said the Jakarta ASEAN foreign ministers meeting also agreed that Thailand and Cambodia should use a bilateral mechanism to end their border conflict, including the Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission (JBC), the General Border Committee (GBC) and the Regional Border Committee (RBC).
Mr Abhisit however said Cambodia has yet to reply as to whether it will attend the upcoming JBC meeting in Thailand at the end of this month.
“Regarding the ASEAN resolution to send its observer team to the border, this does not mean that a third country has intervened in the dispute,” asserted the Thai premier. “The matter should end at ASEAN and Cambodia should not bring the issue to the United Nations again.”
Mr Abhisit said he believed the ASEAN resolution could help ease situation at the Thai-Cambodian border at a certain level, adding that the presence of ASEAN observers and the visit of the UNESCO special envoy to Bangkok and Phnom Penh will allow them to hear information from both sides.
The problem must be jointly resolved for a sustainable solution even though it takes time, he stated.
Tension along the Thai-Cambodian border was renewed after clashes between soldiers of the two countries erupted near the ancient Preah Vihear temple on Feb 4, leading to casualties among the troops and civilians of both sides, as well as forcing the evacuation of villagers living in and on both sides of the disputed area.
The Thai premier made the statement after Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, as current ASEAN chair, said Indonesia will observe the borders of Thailand and Cambodia, noting the decision is considered the first time that the regional pact involves itself in the conflicts of member countries and and has contributed to providing a solution.
"Indonesia will observe on both sides of the border... This is an observer team, not a peacekeeping or peace enforcement team. The observer team will be unarmed," he told reporters after the talks.
The schedule has yet been set for the arrival of the observers. The Indonesian foreign minister added his country will also take part in bilateral talks between Thailand and Cambodia as requested by both sides.
The first meeting will be held in Indonesia but the date will be set later. (MCOT online news)
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