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Cambodia: UN help if border talks fail
LATEST ON THIS STORYRelated Topics: PHNOM PENH, Cambodia
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PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (Map, News) - Cambodia will pursue U.N. intervention to avoid a military confrontation with Thailand if talks between the two countries fail to produce a breakthrough, the Cambodian foreign minister said Friday.
Cambodia is only postponing - not canceling - its request for the U.N. Security Council to hold an emergency meeting on the dispute over contested land near a historic temple, Hor Namhong told reporters.
Foreign ministers from both countries are scheduled to meet Monday in the Cambodian city of Siem Reap.
"This is a new step in our goodwill to try to find a solution to the problem through peaceful negotiations," Hor Namhong said after meeting with ambassadors to Cambodia from the Security Council's five permanent members.
The session was called to inform diplomats about the Monday talks.
He said he was "quite hopeful" that the Monday meeting could resolve the standoff near the 11th century Preah Vihear temple. However, if the talks fail, "resorting to the United Nations is still more preferable than waging a war."
The comments came a day after Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen issued a statement saying he had advised the Security Council to "temporarily postpone its meeting while awaiting results of the negotiations between Cambodia and Thailand."
Military tensions between the two countries over 1.8 square miles of land intensified earlier this month after UNESCO approved a Cambodian application to have the temple designated a World Heritage Site.
Thailand sent troops to the border July 15 after anti-government demonstrators lashed out at Samak's government for supporting Cambodia's application. They claim the temple's new status will undermine Thailand's claim to land around the temple.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej spoke by telephone Thursday and agreed to schedule the meeting next week between their foreign ministers.
Political attempts earlier this week to resolve the crisis failed, prompting Cambodia to take the issue to the U.N.
Thailand opposes the involvement of the U.N. or ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which both countries are members of. Thailand's U.N. ambassador, Don Pramudwinai, has accused Cambodia of bringing the quarrel before the Security Council because "the Cambodian target is not only Preah Vihear but the entire common border."
Don said Cambodia was trying to force Thailand to accept a French colonial map's demarcation of the border.
Thailand relies on a different map drawn up later with American technical assistance, but accepts a ruling by the International Court of Justice that awarded the disputed temple to Cambodia in 1962.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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Examiner Reader said:
Your story from the Associated Press incorrectly stated that the border has never been demarcated. It was in fact many years ago now by the world court. Maps are available. The Thais do seem to have a habit of bitting into other countries boarders. Go to Three Pagoda Pass on the Thai - Burmese boarder and see it first hand. These boarder disputes occur from time to time. There is a lot of chest beating, finger pointing and patriotic pronouncements by those with an agenda. More often than not, it all ends in an agrement, and everyone goes back to their normal lives for another 20 or so years before it all flares up again. Good theatre though nonetheless.
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Examiner Reader said:
Thai Army..please come quick into Cambodia.do not waste time...Ankor has a treat for you
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Examiner Reader said:
once again Thailand is seeking to steal Cambodian land.They are in for a big surprise .
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Examiner Reader said:
Why did these three Thai Buddhistlaypeople take over across the border fence entering Cambodia territory and clambing to Preah Vihear Temple ? As they have alreay knew that there has been political demonstration from some thai people over Prasat Preah Vihear essue as listed by UNESCO on 7 July 2008 in Canada for World Heritage. As the real Buddhist followers,we can find peace in mind in our heart in any place with proper situation. Meditation can be practised while itis stage of our mind free of attachment. Is it a real Dhamma finders or real Problem makers ?
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Khmer Blood said:
The SIAM was rebell of cambodan in the 1st century.The whole Temple of Preh VIHAR was build in the cambodian territory.It belong to CAMBODIA. Les SIEM ont été le rebelle du ancetres cambodgien dans la 1er siècle. La temple Preh VIHAIR est AU CAMBODGE. QUEL MOCHE LES THAI.
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Examiner Reader said:
We do not believe Cambodian PM has joined hand-in-hand with former Thai PM in doing entertainment gaming and energy business in Cambodian. And we do not believe the existing PM will hold any set-back for his political campaign.
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