Hun Sen insists on troop cut

22/10/2009
Bangkok Post


Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen is renewing calls for troops to withdraw from the disputed area near Preah Vihear temple and insists the matter should be settled through negotiation.

Hun Sen yesterday told opposition Puea Thai Party chairman Chavalit Yongchaiyudh in Phnom Penh Cambodia wanted the Joint Boundary Commission to come to an agreement on the area claimed by both Cambodia and Thailand.

"Thailand and Cambodia are friends and will always be friends," Gen Chavalit quoted Hun Sen as saying.

The JBC could begin negotiations once the troops withdrew, including possible talks on how to jointly develop the overlapping area, Gen Chavalit said.

The former prime minister held talks with Hun Sen during a one-day visit ahead of the Asean summit which starts tomorrow.

Hun Sen's position contradicted that of his foreign minister. Hor Namhong last week said he would seek help from Asean to settle the land dispute.

Asean Affairs Department director-general Vitavas Srivihok yesterday said the leaders of Indonesia and Malaysia would not join the summit opening ceremony tomorrow but they would join the meeting later in the day.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was caught up with the formation of his new cabinet and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak had to present his budget policy to the parliament, he said.

The summit in Cha-am and Hua Hin will be held amid tight security as a result of concerns about anti-government protests.

The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship has said it would decide today whether its members would rally at the summit.

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