UN chief offers to help Thailand, Cambodia resolve border dispute

UN Secretary-general Ban Ki- moon on Friday offered to help Cambodia and Thailand resolve their differences over a disputed temple area along their common border.

"The secretary-general hopes that Cambodia and Thailand will resolve the dispute along their border amicably through dialogue," UN spokesman Farhan Haq told reporters here.

"He stands ready to help the parties," Haq said at a daily news briefing in response to a press question.

Tensions escalated between the two neighboring Southeast Asian nations in July 2008 following the build-up of military forces near the Preah Vihear Temple in Cambodia.

The temple, which dates back to the 11th century, was inscribed on the World Heritage List of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) earlier that month.

The row turned deadly in October of that year when two people reportedly died during an exchange of fire between Thai and Cambodian forces near the site.

Source:Xinhua