Temple peace

Cha-am - Foreign Minister Tej Bunnag and Cambodian counterpart Hor Namhong agreed on Tuesday to settle the dispute surrounding the Preah Vihear temple peacefully, but made no specific progress.

"This is the 21st century. We are beyond the stage of resorting to military confrontation," Hor Namhong told a joint press conference.

The ministers met for hours at Cha-am in two separate sessions. Their final decisions:

Talks rather than military might must be used

Border disputes will be discussed and finally settled by existing commissions

A parallel argument over ownership and care of the 13th century Ta Moan temple would be submitted to a future bilateral meeting

"Both sides agreed to consider raising the issue of Ta Moan at the next foreign ministers' meeting," said Mr Tej, reading a joint statement.

Hor Namhong said that Cambodia would remove all its troops from the disputed area around the temple, leaving only police to guard the temple. The Thai side said it would need to consult the military about a similar complete withdrawal.

"If we can solve this problem the temple will be reopened to tourists soon," he said. It has been closed to the public since mid-July.

The two sides agreed to hold further border committee-level meetings on the Preah Vihear on August 29 and in early October, after which there will be another foreign ministers meeting.