ASEAN urges Thailand, Cambodia to return to negotiations

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has urged Thailand and Cambodia to return to negotiations following cross-border fire exchanges that claimed casualties.

Tuesday, February 08, 2011 18:23

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has urged Thailandand Cambodia to return to negotiations following cross-border fireexchanges that claimed casualties.

In a press statement, ASEANSecretary-General Surin Pitsuwan on Feb. 7 expressed his deep concernabout tension along the Thai-Cambodian border, saying that the conflictis undermining confidence in ASEAN and affecting economic recovery,tourism and investment prospect in the region.

He urged the two sides to keep the conflict under control and return to the negotiating table soon.

TheASEAN chief called on both countries to allow ASEAN to help them bringsome form of a temporary truce for the interest of both peoples as wellas ASEAN.

Surin said he had contacted Cambodian Deputy PrimeMinister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Hor Namhong and Thai ForeignMinister Kasit Piramya to discuss the situation and appeal for calm andmaximum restraint on both sides.

Meanwhile, Ambassador to the UNMaria Luiza Ribertro Viotti of Brazil , which currently holds therotating presidency of the UN Security Council, expressed deep concernabout the situation along the Cambodia-Thailand border. She called for aceasefire and urged both countries to resolve the situation peacefully.

Viottisaid the UN Security Council supported mediation efforts undertaken byForeign Minister Marty Natalegawa of Indonesia , the chair country ofASEAN.

She said the UN body is willing to hold a Security Council meeting pending an assessment of ongoing regional mediation efforts.

Theviolent conflict started with gunfire and artillery exchanges on Feb.4, near the long-disputed site of an ancient Hindu Temple , PreahVihear. While the International Court of Justice decided in favour ofCambodia in 1962, the areas adjacent to the Temple remain underdispute./.

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