Thursday, 10 February 2011

Suthep rejects French help


via CAAI

Published: 10/02/2011

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban has turned down an offer by France to help resolve the border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia.

Deputy Prime Minister and Democrat Party secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban

He said Thailand and Cambodia can settle their border dispute without any other country acting as mediator.

Mr Suthep insisted the Thai government wants peace and does not want the conflict to escalate.

He said it is not uncommon for neighbouring countries to have some problems between them, but leaders of the two countries must try to rapidly and peacefully settle the conflict.

The deputy prime minister in charge of security affairs admitted that he was afraid that any involvement by France would lead to a further loss of Thai territory, as happened in 1962 when Thailand lost the ancient Preah Vihear temple to Cambodia by a ruling of the international court.

The spokesman of French foreign ministry said on Wednesday that Paris was willing to mediate a settlement to the border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia.

The spokesman said his ministry was ready to provide the map showing Thai and Cambodian territory prepared for making the 1907 treaty between France and Siam, as Thailand was then called, to help resolve the conflict.

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