via Khmer NZ
BANGKOK, Sept 3 - Thai Prime Minister's Office Minister Ongart Klampaiboon said on Friday Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said Thailand and Cambodia are like “tongue and teeth” and that he is ready to hold bilateral talks with his Thai counterpart Abhisit Vejjajiva in every forum and in any topic.
Mr Ongart, the first Thai cabinet member visiting Phnom Penh since diplomatic ties were restored following the return to duty of the ambassadors of the two kingdoms after fugitive ousted Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra resigned from his advisory post with the Cambodian government.
A diplomatic spat between Thailand and Cambodia occurred after the Khmer government appointed Mr Thaksin as its economic adviser and refused to extradite the ex-Thai premier to face legal action in Bangkok if asked by the Thai authorities.
Thailand expressed its dissatisfaction by recalling its ambassador to Phnom Penh, while Cambodia also recalled its ambassador to Bangkok in retaliation.
Mr Ongart, who met the Cambodian prime minister on Thursday, said he was assured by Mr Hun Sen that he was ready to talk with his Thai counterpart "in every forum", not only the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) scheduled to be held in Belgium in October.
The Cambodian leader said he could discuss with Mr Abhisit on any issue and at any other forum where they may meet including the United Nations General Assembly scheduled at the end of September, he said.
Mr Hun Sen also praised the Thai premier as a well-qualified young man and told Mr Abhisit not to worry over criticism that young men cannot work well as Mr Hun Sen himself became Cambodian prime minister when he was just 32, the Thai minister.
The Cambodian premier said he believed Mr Abhisit will be prime minister for a long period and becoming stronger now he has proven his leadership skills.
Mr Ongart revealed that the Thai premier also asked him to convey his message to his Cambodian counterpart, hoping the relations between the two countries will improve.
The PM's Office Minister however said the issue of Mr Thaksin was not raised during his trip to Phnom Penh.
Regarding the border dispute between both countries concerning the work of Joint Boundary Commission (JBC), Mr Ongart said he clarified to Mr Hun Sen that Thailand is not delaying the case, but now the government is soliciting public opinion on the matter before seeking joint parliamentary approval.
Mr Hun Sen said he wants the JBC to be a forum which will create better understanding between Thailand and Cambodia, adding that relations of both countries are like "tongue and teeth" which may sometimes hit, but never separate from being neighbours due to their adjacent territories
The Cambodian leader said both must find ways to make "tongue and teeth" live in the mouth happily, according to Mr Ongart.
Tension between Thailand and Cambodia regarding the border dispute flared up after the World Heritage Committee (WHC) registered the ancient Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage site last July.
Cambodia attempted to propose a temple management plan to the WHC, but Thailand opposed the move as problem of the contested 4.6 sq km of land near the temple remains unsolved, leading to several military clashes along the Thai-Cambodian border. (MCOT online news)
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