Bangkok: "Sihasak" confirms Cambodia has closed the door to talks after involving Thailand in the UNCR (Union of Commons Dialogue), reiterating Thailand's desire for bilateral discussions on both land and maritime borders. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sihasak Phuangketkaew, addressed the matter following his participation in the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Summit in Manila, Philippines.
According to Thai News Agency, Sihasak revealed that at the summit, the situation on the Thai-Cambodian border was reviewed, with a focus on rebuilding trust before restoring relations. He emphasized Thailand's commitment to the discussions between the two leaders during their meeting in Cebu, Philippines, which called for bilateral talks. Thailand proposed starting with maritime boundaries, as discussions on land boundaries might follow. However, Cambodia's decision to involve Thailand in the UNCR without prior bilateral talks has stalled progress.
Regarding maritime boundaries, Thailand insists on negotiations under the 2001 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which Cambodia has not yet responded to positively. Sihasak expressed confusion over Cambodia's reluctance to negotiate, especially now that Cambodia is part of the UNCR Convention. He questioned why Cambodia did not initiate discussions with Thailand first, considering the shared interests and existing frameworks for negotiations.
The Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently stated that land border issues should be resolved bilaterally without involving the UNCRAS Convention. Sihasak responded by highlighting the contradiction in Cambodia's stance, as the UNCRAS Convention offers dialogue avenues. He reiterated Thailand's position for bilateral discussions and clarified that the appointment of a new Joint Border Committee (JBC) is an internal matter, unrelated to negotiation signals.
Sihasak explained that the JBC's role is technical, focusing on border demarcation. Yet, current security concerns, such as landmines and scammers, need resolution to advance technical negotiations. He emphasized that mutual trust and stability are essential for progress in border demarcation work.
The discussions at the summit also covered regional security and ASEAN's commitment to a rules-based regional order, including the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation in Southeast Asia and dialogue with partners outside the region. ASEAN's approach to the Indo-Pacific region remains open and free, promoting peace and security.