Cambodian, Thai border talks make headway: Cambodian official

The negotiations on the border row between Cambodia and Thailand have made headway as Thai defense minister Prawit Wongsuwon promised to receive a joint Indonesian survey team to evaluate the situation at the conflict area near Preah Vihear temple, said Cambodian defense minister Tea Banh on Saturday.

"Mr. Prawit Wongsuwon has verbally promised to accept an Indonesian survey team into the disputed border as a prerequisite to holding a General Border Committee meeting," Tea Banh said at Phnom Penh International Airport when arriving from attending the 5th ASEAN defense ministers meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia.

During the meeting, Tea Banh and Prawit Wongsuwon discussed the border conflict on May 18 under the preparation of Indonesian defense minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro.

"Mr. Prawit demanded Indonesia to issue an announcement about the dispatch of the survey team to the conflict border in a proper time and suggested that they dress as civilians," said Tea Banh.

"Prawit is likely to be willing to solve the border issue with Cambodia,"he said, adding "this can be considered as a progressive step in the border talks between Cambodia and Thailand. "

"As soon as the Indonesian survey team arrives at the border near Preah Vihear temple, Cambodia will hold the GBC meeting with Thailand bilaterally without Indonesian presence," Tea Banh said.

Meanwhile, he said that on May 20, there was also a meeting between ASEAN defense minister and Chinese defense minister in Indonesia.

"At that time, Chinese defense minister Liang Guanglie has encouraged Cambodia and Thailand to accelerate the negotiations in order to end the conflict soon,"he said.

Cambodian and Thai border has never been completely demarcated. Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple was enlisted as World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008. But Thailand claims the ownership of 1.8 square miles (4.6 square km) of scrub next to the temple. Just a week after the enlistment, Cambodia and Thailand had a border conflict, triggering a military build-up along the border, and periodic clashes between Cambodian and Thai soldiers have resulted in the deaths of troops on both sides.

Source: Xinhua