BANGKOK, Feb 20 (MCOT)-- With only two days left before foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meet in Jakarta to explore ways on ending border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva (pictured) reiterated Sunday that ASEAN would not involve itself in border conflict matters to be discussed by the two neighbouring countries.
Mr Abhisit said during his weekly TV and radio address that the 10-member ASEAN regional grouping would act as “coordinator, witness and provide facility only” while he and concerned ministers including foreign affairs, defence and the natural resources and environment would be responsible for informing the world community to better understand the ongoing border situation.
He said he had discussed on telephone with Irina Bokova, director-general of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), on tensions between Thailand and Cambodia as a result of the listing of the Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage site and it is, therefore, better to suspend the process for the time being until the border problem is settled.
A four-day bloody clashes between soldiers of the two countries erupted near the ancient temple on February 4, killing and wounding many people on both sides as well as forcing evacuation of villagers living near the disputed area.
Meanwhile, the general atmosphere at the Thai border checkpoint in Si Sa Ket province was very quiet Sunday as Cambodians and Thais were reluctant to cross each border for trade. (MCOT online news)
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Thai PM: ASEAN not to Interfere with Thai-Cambodian Dispute
2011-02-20
Xinhua Web Editor: haodi
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Sunday said ASEAN will not interfere with any substance of negotiation between Thailand and Cambodia on their border dispute.
"I would like to stress that the position of ASEAN, as we have been following, is it will not interfere with any substance that we will talk to Cambodia," Abhisit said in his weekly national televised address.
The premier said the United Nations Security Council, which met on the Thai-Cambodian border dispute last Monday, was of the view that the two countries should talk to each other with ASEAN, or the Association of South East Asian Nations, acting as the facilitator or coordinator.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, as the current ASEAN chair, has called a meeting of the regional grouping's foreign ministers on Feb. 22 in Jakarta to discuss the issue.
Abhisit has repeatedly said that the border dispute was a bilateral issue and should be solved through the existing mechanism between the two nations.
The premier also said UNESCO now seemed to share Thailand's view that the organization should not proceed with any decision on the administering plan of a disputed 4.6-square-kilometer area around the 11th century Preah Vihear temple as Thailand and Cambodia both claim sovereignty over the area.
He said he talked to UNESCO director-general Irina Bokova over the phone last week to explain Thailand's position on the issue.
Abhsit said Ms. Bokova seemed to understand that any implementation of the administering plan, while there was still a border dispute, "could not proceed."
UNESCO's World Heritage committee is scheduled to discuss the administering plan, as proposed by Cambodia, in June this year.
Abhisit said instead of holding any discussion on the plan, UNESCO, or the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, should let Thailand and Cambodia negotiate bilaterally on their border demarcation first, and suspend any proceeding in regarding to the Preah Vihear temple.
Phnom Penh unilaterally has the temple enlisted as a World Heritage site on July 7, 2008.
Mr Abhisit said during his weekly TV and radio address that the 10-member ASEAN regional grouping would act as “coordinator, witness and provide facility only” while he and concerned ministers including foreign affairs, defence and the natural resources and environment would be responsible for informing the world community to better understand the ongoing border situation.
He said he had discussed on telephone with Irina Bokova, director-general of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), on tensions between Thailand and Cambodia as a result of the listing of the Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage site and it is, therefore, better to suspend the process for the time being until the border problem is settled.
A four-day bloody clashes between soldiers of the two countries erupted near the ancient temple on February 4, killing and wounding many people on both sides as well as forcing evacuation of villagers living near the disputed area.
Meanwhile, the general atmosphere at the Thai border checkpoint in Si Sa Ket province was very quiet Sunday as Cambodians and Thais were reluctant to cross each border for trade. (MCOT online news)
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Thai PM: ASEAN not to Interfere with Thai-Cambodian Dispute
2011-02-20
Xinhua Web Editor: haodi
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Sunday said ASEAN will not interfere with any substance of negotiation between Thailand and Cambodia on their border dispute.
"I would like to stress that the position of ASEAN, as we have been following, is it will not interfere with any substance that we will talk to Cambodia," Abhisit said in his weekly national televised address.
The premier said the United Nations Security Council, which met on the Thai-Cambodian border dispute last Monday, was of the view that the two countries should talk to each other with ASEAN, or the Association of South East Asian Nations, acting as the facilitator or coordinator.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, as the current ASEAN chair, has called a meeting of the regional grouping's foreign ministers on Feb. 22 in Jakarta to discuss the issue.
Abhisit has repeatedly said that the border dispute was a bilateral issue and should be solved through the existing mechanism between the two nations.
The premier also said UNESCO now seemed to share Thailand's view that the organization should not proceed with any decision on the administering plan of a disputed 4.6-square-kilometer area around the 11th century Preah Vihear temple as Thailand and Cambodia both claim sovereignty over the area.
He said he talked to UNESCO director-general Irina Bokova over the phone last week to explain Thailand's position on the issue.
Abhsit said Ms. Bokova seemed to understand that any implementation of the administering plan, while there was still a border dispute, "could not proceed."
UNESCO's World Heritage committee is scheduled to discuss the administering plan, as proposed by Cambodia, in June this year.
Abhisit said instead of holding any discussion on the plan, UNESCO, or the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, should let Thailand and Cambodia negotiate bilaterally on their border demarcation first, and suspend any proceeding in regarding to the Preah Vihear temple.
Phnom Penh unilaterally has the temple enlisted as a World Heritage site on July 7, 2008.
1 comment:
Why do Kos Trol, sea and lands proximately over 10 000 km2 have been lost to Vietnam by who treaty? Why don’t Cambodia goverment transparencies explain to Cambodia army at front line and the whole nation about this? Why don't they include this into education system? Why?
Cambodian armies are fighting at front line for 4.6 km2 and what's about over 10 000km2 of Cambodia to Vietnam. Nobody dare to talk about it! Why? Cambodian armies you are decide the fate of your nation, Cambodian army as well as Cambodian people must rethink about this again and again. Is it fair?
Kos Trol, Sea and lands over 10 000km2 have been lost to Vietnam by who treaty at 1979 to 1985 treaty! Treaty! Cambodian army at front line as well as all Cambodian people must rethink again about these issues. Are Cambodian army fighting to protect the Cambodia Nation or protect a very small group that own big lands, big properties or only protecting a small group rather in the real name of protecting Khmer nation?
Cambodian army at front line suffer under rain, wind, bullets, bombs, lack of foods, lack of nutrition, their families have no health care help, no securities after they die but a very small group eat well, sleep well, sleep in first class hotel with air conditioning with young girls message, have super health care from oversea medical treatment, they are billionaires, millionaires who sell out the country to be rich and make Cambodian people suffer everyday as Cambodian people know already.
Who signed the treaty 1979-1985 that result lost over 10 000 km2 of Cambodia??? Why don't they transparency inform all Cambodian and Cambodian army at front line about these issues? Why don't include Kos Trol (Kos Trol size is bigger than the whole Phom Phen and bigger than Singapoor with heap of great natural resources) in education system in Cambodia.
Look at Hun Sen families, relatives; friends are billionaires, millionaires where do they get the money from if we all just get out of war with empty hands? Hun Sen always say in his speech Cambodia just get up from war, just get up from Zero with empty hands and how come they are billionaires, millionaires but 90% innocent Cambodian people are so poor struggling with living every day.
Smart Khmer girl Ms. Rattana Keo,
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