BANGKOK, Feb 20 (MCOT online news) — With only two days left before foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meet in Jakarta to explore ways on ending border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva reiterated Sunday that ASEAN would not involve itself in border conflict matters to be discussed by the two neighbouring countries.
Mr Abhisit said during his weekly TV and radio address that the 10-member ASEAN regional grouping would act as “coordinator, witness and provide facility only” while he and concerned ministers including foreign affairs, defence and the natural resources and environment would be responsible for informing the world community to better understand the ongoing border situation.
He said he had discussed on telephone with Irina Bokova, director-general of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), on tensions between Thailand and Cambodia as a result of the listing of the Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage site and it is, therefore, better to suspend the process for the time being until the border problem is settled.
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