PM, Hun Sen to concentrate on improving relations
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has told Cambodian leader Hun Sen in a letter that border issues will be resolved through existing bilateral mechanisms.
Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya handed the letter to Hun Sen during a trip to Phnom Penh to improve bilateral relations, which have been marred recently by border disputes.
Abhisit hailed Hun Sen's positive speech made last Tuesday in Oddar Meanchey province in which he vowed to solve ongoing border issues between the two countries. The Cambodian leader said he would not raise this issue at the upcoming Asean Summit.
"As we are immediate neighbours and share common borders, traditions and cultures, my government is committed to bringing better security and more prosperity to the livelihood of our two peoples and countries," Abhisit said in the letter.
He said Thailand and Cambodia had an obligation as Asean members to improve bilateral ties, or else the regional grouping would be affected.
Kasit quoted Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen as saying it was the two countries' joint duty and responsibility to move Thai-Cambodian relations forward for the well-being of Asean.
Kasit's courtesy call on Hun Sen yesterday turned into a 55-minute discussion on Thai-Cambodian relations and regional cooperation. After greeting Kasit, Hun Sen recalled the days they worked together to bring peace to Cambodia at the 1989 Paris Peace Conference.
"We've known each other for 20 years. Now we are determined to move our relations forward," Kasit quoted Hun Sen as saying, referring to their common experience during the Cambodian conflict.
Kasit reported that Hun Sen wanted to prevent any future misunderstanding between the leaders and governments, both sides needed to be constantly in touch to clear up any misinterpretations or misinformation coming from media reports, vested interest groups or non-governmental organisations.
Both leaders reiterated that any problem between them would be settled through peaceful means, negotiations and the non-use of force. During an earlier meeting, Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong also stressed these three points.
"We should foster and move forward on common goals rather than focus on our differences. We should not let one issue become a bottleneck for 40 or 50 other issues that are in progress," Kasit said, talking about his common understanding with Hun Sen.
Kasit said Thailand would take up the Emerald Triangle Cooperation, the brainchild of Hun Sen, at the upcoming Asean summit. The framework, proposed in 2000, was aimed at promoting tourism in Thailand, Cambodia and Laos.
In Oddar Meanchey province, Hun Sen commented on Thai-Cambodian relations, saying his country wanted to prevent the resurgence of an armed conflict and urged both sides to continue negotiations.
Abhisit expressed gratitude to Hun Sen for accepting an invitation to attend the 14th Asean Summit in Hua Hin from February 27 to March 1. He said he would visit Cambodia in the near future "to enhance and further all aspects of our relations".
Kasit told a press conference both sides agreed to settle their mutual problems through peaceful means and in brotherly ways. Hor Namhong said Thai Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan would visit Cambodia next month to discuss the border situation.
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