By Xinhua,
Singapore : Cambodia and Thailand reiterated Tuesday that they were committed to a peaceful resolution of the border dispute, Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo said.
“Thailand and Cambodia gave the assurance that they would exercise utmost restraint and resolve the issue amicably in the spirit of ASEAN solidarity and good neighborliness. Both sides also reiterated that they would handle the situation in accordance with their ASEAN and international obligations,” Yeo said in a statement.
Yeo said the two countries have assured him that “the General Border Commission would continue to meet, and that the next meeting would be held in the near future.”
Ministers from Thailand and Cambodia Tuesday briefed their ASEAN counterparts on border dispute over the Preah Vihear Temple. According to diplomats after the meeting, Cambodia wants ASEAN to get involved but Thailand wants to solve the dispute bilaterally.
While Cambodia has sought ASEAN’s assistance in resolving the row, the foreign ministers “didn’t go any further” than saying that the group was prepared to help, ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan told reporters.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
The ASEAN foreign ministers are holding their annual meeting in Singapore this week.
Thailand and Cambodia are locked in a military stand-off over the 11th century Preah Vihear temple. The dispute over territory near Preah Vihear temple escalated earlier this month when UNESCO approved Cambodia’s application to have the complex named a World Heritage Site.