(Post by CAAI News Media)
BANGKOK, Oct 8 (TNA) - Thailand's Minister of Foreign Affairs Kasit Piromya on Thursday said Thailand will propose establishing a mechanism to settle conflicts among members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) during the group’s upcoming summit scheduled for later this month in the Thai seaside resorts of Cha-am and Hua Hin.
Mr Kasit made his remarks during a speech in the Thai capital Thursday on the problem of land sovereignty along the Thai-Cambodian border.
The Thai foreign minister expressed hope that the mechanism will help sort out border disputes between Thailand and Cambodia.
Thailand will host the 15th ASEAN Summit and related summits in Phetchaburi's Cha-am district and Prachuab Khiri Khan's Hua Hin district October 23 to 25. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has confirmed that he will attend the summit despite the renewed tensions between the two neighbouring countries.
Mr Hun Sen earlier announced that he had ordered his troops to shoot any intruders from Thailand who stepped on Cambodian soil, after protesters led by Thailand's Peoples’ Alliance for Democracy (PAD) rallied in Si Sa Ket province last month to oppose Cambodia's plan to build new structures in the contested 4.6 square kilometres zone surrounding Preah Vihear temple.
The PAD protesters clashed with local police and local residents there.
Mr Kasit said that the government has negotiation frameworks which adhere to peaceful approaches and avoid any use of violence.
"I affirm that we have not yet lost the contested 4.6 square kilometers land and negotiation is the best way to solve this conflict," said Mr Kasit.
The minister added that rumours sometimes have been unleashed with an aim to benefit internal politics.
"I met Mr Hun Sen last week and everything sounds fine. I clarified the issue with all parties concerned," the Thai foreign minister said.
Mr Kasit reaffirmed that there is no conflict of interest, nor secret, in tackling the border dispute. He insisted everything can be examined and urged the public to trust the government's sincere intention to solve the dispute.
"I urge everyone not to stir up troubles which could lead to international conflict," said Mr Kasit.
The border disputes between Thailand and Cambodia flared up when former Thai Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama signed a joint communique with Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister Sok An in June 2008 to support Cambodia's sole application to list the 11th century temple as a World Heritage site, while the question of sovereignty over the land has never been clearly resolved. (TNA)
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