Talks With Thailand To Resume Next Week

Prime Minister Hun Sen said Wednesday that Thai and Cam­bodian foreign ministries will re­sume negotiations next week in New York on the sidelines of the an­nual UN General Assembly session, though he denied incorrect news reports that he or Foreign Minister Hor Namhong would attend.

“[Media] reported that Sam­dech Hun Sen will go to New York this week to join the United Nation assembly,” Hun Sen said Wednes­day morning during a press conference after the first session of the National Assembly.

“They know that the prime minister is busy with the National Assembly meeting and forming the new government and the Council of Ministers meet­ing….Even Hor Nam­hong cannot go to New York,” he said.

Two Foreign Ministry secretaries of state will fly to New York instead, he added.

Foreign Ministry Under­sec­retary of State Koy Kuong said Wednes­day that Foreign Ministry Sec­retaries of State Ouch Borith and Kao Kim Hourn “will leave very soon” to attend the meeting in New York.

Hun Sen also said he telephon­ed newly instated Thai Prime Minister Som­chai Wong­sawat last week and “tal­ked about the will of each side to re­sume the meeting” to resolve on­going border disputes with Thailand.

“The framework will be started soon, but we must have patience,” Hun Sen said, adding that the military standoff with Thailand remains calm even though it has spread to three border temples.

“We don’t talk about fighting un­less they attack our country,” he said.

“We do not drop our plan to take the case to the international court or any institution to resolve the case. Only in the case of war, Cam­bodia will file the case to the UN Security Council,” he added.

Somchai Wongsawat said Sa­turday that Thai and Cam­bodian foreign ministers would meet this Monday in New York, according to a statement from the Thai Foreign Ministry.

Thai Foreign Ministry press officer Apirat Sugondhabhirom said Wednesday that he had expected the foreign ministers of all Asean nations to attend the Informal Asean Ministerial Meet­ing next week in New York.

Apirat said that new Thai For­eign Minister Sompong Amor­nviwat, who was endorsed by the king along with the entire cabinet Wednesday, is expected to lead the Thai delegation to New York and discuss with Cambodia “how to am­icably resolve the border issues.”

“We will be ready to talk with the Cambodian delegation, whatever rank,” he said by telephone from Bangkok.