New minister expects talks to be positive

Tej, a retired career diplomat and a member of the Privy Council who was appointed foreign minister two days ago, pledged to perform to the best of his ability as he was sworn in by His Majesty the King yesterday afternoon. He replaced Noppadon Pattama, who quit over the controversy of listing Preah Vihear as a World Heritage site.

Tej will lead a Thai delegation in a crucial meeting with Hor Nam Hong, the Cambodian minister, this morning and will return to Bangkok tonight.

"I expect a positive outcome from the ministerial meeting. The issue is very complicated but based on the good long-standing relations between the two countries, I believe we should be able to work the problem out," Tej said yesterday.

Former prime minister Anand Panyarachun said yesterday that he believed Tej would help improve the government's image, in addition to contributing his expertise in international relations.

Tej's appointment came at a critical juncture as Hun Sen, the Cambodian prime minister, looked set to win another majority in the country's general election. Tej yesterday chaired a meeting of senior Foreign Ministry officials, including permanent secretary Virasakdi Futrakul and spokesman Tharit Jarungwat, on the deteriorating relations with Cambodia.

Tharit quoted the new minister as saying the dispute over the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple was complicated.

"If Cambodia shows sincerity and is open-minded in the talks by not setting any conditions, I believe the negotiations on Monday will go well. The two countries have excellent relations, which will help the talks," Tharit quoted Tej as saying.

However, talks on this sensitive issue will certainly take time and could not be settled in a single meeting.

Tharit stressed the Thai military was stationed in Thai territory only.

He said Thailand was sincere in resolving the conflict as evidenced by its willingness to keep the problem between the two countries at a bilateral level in 2004 when the Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh was burned down during an anti-Thai riot.

Asked whether the talks today would produce a conclusion, Tharit said he expected conclusions at a certain level.

Asked whether Thailand was concerned about Cambodia's tactic of trying to woo international support for its cause, Tharit said Bangkok was ready to clarify matters to the international community and wanted to keep the conflict at a bilateral level.

Meanwhile, Thai Ambassador to Phnom Penh Weerapan Watcharathit said Cambodia had arranged the ministerial meeting at the Angkor Palace Spa and Resort in Siem Reap.

The ambassador was confident there would not be any protest against Thailand in the province because organisers of protests in Cambodia would have to seek permission from the government and none had done so.