ASEAN urges Thai-Cambodian border-tensions´ resolution

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Source: CCTV.com | 07-21-2008 09:01

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations is urging restraint in a border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia. Both countries are claiming 4.6 square kilometers of land around a new World Heritage site.

Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo.

During a meeting in Singapore, ASEAN foreign Ministers urged Thailand and Cambodia to resolve their border dispute peacefully. Tension remains, with Thai and Cambodian troops deployed near the area of the Preah Vihear Temple, a World Heritage site recently approved by UNESCO.

Geoege Yeo, the Singaporean Foreign Minister, said, "We urged both sides to exercise utmost restraint and resolve this issue amicably, in the spirit of ASEAN solidarity and good neighborliness."

Both Thailand and Cambodia affirmed that they will abide by their ASEAN and international obligations and try to find a peaceful solution to the issue during a top-level bilateral meeting on Monday.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen wrote another letter to his Thai counterpart, Samak Sundaravej, on Sunday. In the letter, Hun Sen agreed with Samak on mutual efforts to defuse border tension.

Earlier, Cambodia submitted a letter to the UN Security Council, hoping to draw the UN's attention to the matter.

The tension began on Tuesday, when three Thai protesters trespassed the border to reclaim the Preah Vihear Temple. The three were immediately arrested. Thai troops then came in to fetch them, triggering a face off with Cambodian soldiers.

Editor:Zhang Yue