Thai troops deployed near Preah Vihear temple first withdraw

Cambodia-Thailand talks on border issue "fruitful": Cambodian PM


www.chinaview.cn 2009-06-30 17:55:30 Print

PHNOM PENH, June 30 -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said Tuesday that the talks he had made with Thai Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban and Defense Minister Prawit Wongsuwan on Saturday were "fruitful and honest."

He said the meeting, which was held in a private and close-door form.

Elaborating the content of the talks, Hun Sen said the Thai delegation, upon his prior warning, did not raise Preah Vihear issue, but many other topics such as those related to joint development projects between the two nations.

Attributing to the points, he said, "We talked about developments of overlapping maritime areas that aimed at exploiting oil and gas, among others development projects."

The premier, however, said he did reiterate how to ease border tension in general and to avoid further armed clashes and urged Thailand to withdraw their troops from the area near Preah Vihear Temple.

He said Cambodian troops will never withdraw unless 30 Thai troops deployed near Preah Vihear temple first withdraw.

Also, during the talks, Hun Sen said he had warned Thai side not to fly their military aircraft over Cambodian territory, saying his armed forces have been newly equipped with modern ground-to-air missiles.

Hun Sen, however, said his statement meant nothing to show off his country's armament or any will to have warfare, but they were stocked and would be used only for self-defense purposes.

Cambodia and Thailand have had border dispute after Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple was listed as World Heritage site in July last year.