Thai Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan and Prime Minister Hun Sen agreed Thursday to work to prevent smuggling across the Thai-Cambodian border.
Automobiles moving from Thailand and antiquities leaving Cambodia were two of the targeted areas of illicit trade.
After meeting Hun Sen, Pitsuwan said 122 stolen artifacts would be returned at the end of this month to Princess Bopha Devi, the minister of culture who is scheduled to visit Bangkok for the return ceremony.
Pitsuwan, who also met National Assembly President Prince Norodom Ranariddh on Thursday, said he and Hun Sen agreed boundary demarcations for both land and water need to be addressed soon.
“We agreed there shall be a meeting of the general border committee soon to look into cooperation to bring peace, stability and understanding,” said Pitsuwan before he boarded his plane to leave Thursday afternoon.
Said Om Yentieng, a senior adviser to Hun Sen said, “It was a friendly meeting to strengthen the cooperation and relations of both sides.”
Both Thai and Cambodian officials said the case of Sok Yoeun, an opposition party activist who has been jailed in a Thai prison for entering the country illegally and has been accused of being involved in a rocket attack in Siem Reap, wasn’t discussed.
“I think [Hun Sen] understands that it is now going through the Thai judicial system,” said Pitsuwan, adding Thai officials are examining evidence sent by the Cambodian government.
Also on Thursday, Sawit Bhodhivihok, head of electricity issues for the Thai prime minister’s office, signed a framework of cooperation with Industry Minister Suy Sem to provide electricity to parts of Siem Reap, Preah Vihear and Battambang provinces. The electricity agreement only provides a broad outline of how the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand would sell electricity to the Cambodian government, a Thai diplomat said.
An agreement specifying the details, including purchasing prices, will hopefully be signed when the Thai Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai is scheduled to visit in April, the diplomat said.
Another Thai dignitary, Princess Maha Chakri Srindhorn, is scheduled to arrive Monday in Siem Reap for a five-day visit to learn more about the culture and archaeology of Cambodia.
The princess, who will be hosted by Princess Bopha Devi, plans to visit 20 temples in Siem Reap.
