Feb 4, 2011,
Phnom Penh (DPA)- The foreign ministers of Cambodia and Thailand on Friday sought to talk down tensions following a build-up of troops near disputed land on their border.
They were addressing reporters after a meeting of the Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation in the city of Siem Reap in north-west Cambodia.
Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said talks with his counterpart Hor Namhong had covered 'every subject.'
'The main objective is to avoid any action, activity, any public pronouncement that might lead to misinformation,' Kasit said.
He stressed both sides wanted relations to return to normal, and 'to move forward to enhance the wellbeing of the Cambodian and Thai people.'
Hor Namhong claimed the situation at the border region was no more tense than usual.
Although both nations had bolstered troop numbers near the 11th-century Hindu temple of Preah Vihear on Cambodia's northern border, he added: 'I do not believe that armed clashes will break out in the near future.'
Hor Namhong also said since the nearby temple of Keo Sikha Kirisvara was on Cambodian territory, Phnom Penh would not accede to recent Thai demands to remove the Cambodian flag from the site. Bangkok claims the temple is located in a disputed area near Preah Vihear.
Kasit later headed to Phnom Penh where he was scheduled to meet two Thai nationals who were sentenced this week to lengthy prison terms for allegedly trespassing across another part of the border.
Political activist Veera Somkwamkit was jailed for eight years on charges of spying, crossing the border and illegally entering a military base. The court sentenced his secretary, Ratree Taiputana, to six years on the same charges.
Veera is a former leader of the nationalist People's Alliance for Democracy movement, also known as the yellow shirts.
Five other Thais arrested in the same December incident, including parliamentarian Panich Vikitsreth of the ruling Democrat Party, were released after receiving suspended sentences.
Relations between Thailand and Cambodia have been tense for more than two years with sporadic clashes between troops over disputed territory near Preah Vihear. The World Court declared in 1962 that the temple was in Cambodia, but did not rule on the nearby land.
The two countries are currently engaged in a stalled process to demarcate their shared boundary.
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A few hours after this report was filed, a one-hour fighting broke out between Cambodian and Thai troops near Preah Vihear temple. No casualty was immediately reported, but Cambodia's DAP News online has reported that many Thai soldiers were killed and 4 Thai soldiers were captured.
They were addressing reporters after a meeting of the Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation in the city of Siem Reap in north-west Cambodia.
Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said talks with his counterpart Hor Namhong had covered 'every subject.'
'The main objective is to avoid any action, activity, any public pronouncement that might lead to misinformation,' Kasit said.
He stressed both sides wanted relations to return to normal, and 'to move forward to enhance the wellbeing of the Cambodian and Thai people.'
Hor Namhong claimed the situation at the border region was no more tense than usual.
Although both nations had bolstered troop numbers near the 11th-century Hindu temple of Preah Vihear on Cambodia's northern border, he added: 'I do not believe that armed clashes will break out in the near future.'
Hor Namhong also said since the nearby temple of Keo Sikha Kirisvara was on Cambodian territory, Phnom Penh would not accede to recent Thai demands to remove the Cambodian flag from the site. Bangkok claims the temple is located in a disputed area near Preah Vihear.
Kasit later headed to Phnom Penh where he was scheduled to meet two Thai nationals who were sentenced this week to lengthy prison terms for allegedly trespassing across another part of the border.
Political activist Veera Somkwamkit was jailed for eight years on charges of spying, crossing the border and illegally entering a military base. The court sentenced his secretary, Ratree Taiputana, to six years on the same charges.
Veera is a former leader of the nationalist People's Alliance for Democracy movement, also known as the yellow shirts.
Five other Thais arrested in the same December incident, including parliamentarian Panich Vikitsreth of the ruling Democrat Party, were released after receiving suspended sentences.
Relations between Thailand and Cambodia have been tense for more than two years with sporadic clashes between troops over disputed territory near Preah Vihear. The World Court declared in 1962 that the temple was in Cambodia, but did not rule on the nearby land.
The two countries are currently engaged in a stalled process to demarcate their shared boundary.
----------------------------
A few hours after this report was filed, a one-hour fighting broke out between Cambodian and Thai troops near Preah Vihear temple. No casualty was immediately reported, but Cambodia's DAP News online has reported that many Thai soldiers were killed and 4 Thai soldiers were captured.
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