BANGKOK, Feb 15 -- Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Tuesday said he believed the reaction of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to the Thai-Cambodian border clash could ease border tension and that Cambodia could not avoid bilateral talks to resolve the dispute.
Mr Abhsiit said that the 15-member Security Council made clear in a statement its role would be limited to supporting "bilateral efforts and regional efforts" to talk to end the conflict.
"It shows that the international community wants both sides to use bilateral talks to end the conflict. Therefore Cambodia has no reason to reject (the talks). We should return to the talk," Mr Abhisit said.
The Security Council statement called on the two sides to display maximum restraint and avoid any action that may aggravate the situation.
"Members urged both countries to establish and fully implement a permanent cease-fire and resolve the situation peacefully and through effective dialogue," the statement said.
Brazil's UN Ambassador Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, current council president, was quoted by the Associated Press (AP) as saying that the UN stands ready to take further action if necessary but "right now regional efforts are in full force ... (and) of course, we hope it will be peacefully settled by the parties with ASEAN mediation.''
Ms Viotti made the call after a closed-door session with Thai Foreign Minister Kasit, Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong and Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa in his capacity as the current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Mr Abhisit said he believed during ASEAN foreign ministers meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia on Feb 22, ASEAN would carry out its duties to bring back the two sides to return to the negotiation table and was confident that the UNSC statement over the matter would ease border tension and the incident should not be internationalised.
"Thailand never thought of invasion nor use force but wants the dispute to be ironed out through talks," he said.
Regarding the possibility that Cambodia may not attend the ASEAN foreign ministers meeting, Mr Abhisit said he believed Cambodia should listen to the United Nations advice as it was Cambodia which had asked the world body to meet on the issue. When the Security Council urged both sides to hold talks, Cambodia should respect its decision.
Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong was quoted by Reuters news agency as telling reporters he has not given up on securing more active UN involvement. If the United Nations does not send peacekeepers to the border, he said, UN observers or a fact-finding mission would work. (MCOT online news, agencies)
Mr Abhsiit said that the 15-member Security Council made clear in a statement its role would be limited to supporting "bilateral efforts and regional efforts" to talk to end the conflict.
"It shows that the international community wants both sides to use bilateral talks to end the conflict. Therefore Cambodia has no reason to reject (the talks). We should return to the talk," Mr Abhisit said.
The Security Council statement called on the two sides to display maximum restraint and avoid any action that may aggravate the situation.
"Members urged both countries to establish and fully implement a permanent cease-fire and resolve the situation peacefully and through effective dialogue," the statement said.
Brazil's UN Ambassador Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, current council president, was quoted by the Associated Press (AP) as saying that the UN stands ready to take further action if necessary but "right now regional efforts are in full force ... (and) of course, we hope it will be peacefully settled by the parties with ASEAN mediation.''
Ms Viotti made the call after a closed-door session with Thai Foreign Minister Kasit, Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong and Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa in his capacity as the current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Mr Abhisit said he believed during ASEAN foreign ministers meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia on Feb 22, ASEAN would carry out its duties to bring back the two sides to return to the negotiation table and was confident that the UNSC statement over the matter would ease border tension and the incident should not be internationalised.
"Thailand never thought of invasion nor use force but wants the dispute to be ironed out through talks," he said.
Regarding the possibility that Cambodia may not attend the ASEAN foreign ministers meeting, Mr Abhisit said he believed Cambodia should listen to the United Nations advice as it was Cambodia which had asked the world body to meet on the issue. When the Security Council urged both sides to hold talks, Cambodia should respect its decision.
Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong was quoted by Reuters news agency as telling reporters he has not given up on securing more active UN involvement. If the United Nations does not send peacekeepers to the border, he said, UN observers or a fact-finding mission would work. (MCOT online news, agencies)
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