Thailand, Cambodia committed to peaceful resolution of border dispute

SINGAPORE, July 22 (Xinhua) -- 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.

BANGKOK, July 21 (Xinhua) -- The special meeting of the Thai-Cambodian General Border Committee (GBC) concluded Monday evening with both Thailand and Cambodia agreed not to use force to settle their dispute over the borderline near Preah Vihear Temple. Full story

PHNOM PENH, July 21 (Xinhua) -- The Cambodian side Monday turned down the Thai side's request to review the border lines, during the meeting of the General Border Committee (GBC) between both countries held in Thai province of Sa Kaew, said a senior Cambodian official. Full story

HANOI, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam has called on Cambodia and Thailand to resolve their dispute relating to the Preah Vihear Temple through peaceful negotiations, local newspaper Vietnam News on Tuesday quoted a local spokesman as reporting. Full story

SINGAPORE, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will help member states Thailand and Cambodia end the tense border dispute over an ancient temple, ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan said on Tuesday.