14 Feb 2011

UN / CAMBODIA THAILAND

As the UN Security Council discusses the recent armed clashes along the Thai-Cambodia border, the Foreign Minister of Thailand talks about the need for both countries to work together for a peaceful solution while Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minster says “bilateral talks have failed since 2008.” UNTV / FILE

Posted at: February 14, 2011 5:44 pm

Duration: 03:26

Available in: SD

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STORY: UN / CAMBODIA THAILAND
TRT: 3:26
SOURCE: UNTV / UNESCO
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 14 FEBRUARY 2011, UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK / RECENT / FILE

SHOTLIST:

RECENT - UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK

1. Wide shot, exterior UN headquarters

14 FEBRUARY 2011, UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK

2. Med shot, Security Council President walking to stakeout
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, Permanent Representative of Brazil, United Nations:
"The Security Council meeting aimed at supporting bilateral efforts and regional efforts – mediation and facilitation efforts. We'll support, we've supported the meeting that'll take place on the 22nd of February and we hope this will advance a peaceful resolution of the issue."
4. Cutaway, journalist
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Marty Natalegawa, Foreign Minister of Indonesia:
"One of the impressions that I got when I was travelling through the region last week, three impressions, one, is that very impressions from both sides that they wish to see the problem solved peacefully and through dialogue and negotiations. And I've absolutely no reason to doubt their commitment and on the contrary, as Chairman of ASEAN, is our interest to accentuate that sentiment and from what I hear in the discussions today I think both sides underscored the fact that there needs to be some kind of a diplomatic solution to the problem."
6. Cutaway, journalist
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Kasit Piromya, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Thailand:
"Cambodia and Thailand has to move together, live together and progress together. And there's no reason why there should be a continuation of the conflict. We are one of the biggest investors, traders in Cambodia. We are a rising major donor in terms of the socio-economic development in Cambodia and there is much more commonalities between our two peoples in terms of culture, tradition, belief and so on. And I think in this world, one talks about cooperation and there are many of the border issues like diseases, trafficking in drugs, in person that we should work together to overcome all of this global issues."
8. Cutaway, journalist
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Hor Namhong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Cambodia: 
"Why Thailand always see to the view to have bilateral settlement? But bilateral talk has failed since 2008; we have direct talk with Thailand since 2008-2010. But negotiations bilaterally have failed therefore we need one of the third party to have the two party to settle our problem. Therefore we welcome the UN Security Council press statement in which the Security Council welcomes the strong support of ASEAN for the two parties; the active role of ASEAN, both parties to settle the problem."
10. Cutaway, journalist
11. Med shot, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister leaving media stakeout

FILE – UNESCO – 2008, PREAH VIHEAR

12. Various shots, Preah Vihear temple

STORYLINE:

Voicing grave concern about the recent armed clashes between Cambodia and Thailand, the Security Council today (14 Feb) urged the South-East Asian neighbours to establish a permanent ceasefire following closed-door talks on the situation.

After reading a press statement calling for maximum restrain, Ambassador Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti of Brazil, which holds the monthly presidency of the 15-member body for February, said that the Council meeting was aimed at "supporting bilateral efforts and regional efforts."

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is expected to address the issue on 22 February in Jakarta.

Foreign Minister of Indonesia, which holds the chairmanship of ASEAN this year, Marty Natalegawa told the press that there is no reason to doubt the countries' commitment adding that "both sides have underscored the fact that there needs to be some kind of a diplomatic solution to the problem."

During its session today, the Council was briefed by Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs B. Lynn Pascoe and Natalegawa. It also heard from Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia Hor Namhong and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand Kasit Piromya.

Speaking to the press about Thai-Cambodia relations, Thailand's Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said "there is much more commonalities between our two peoples in terms of culture, tradition, belief" adding that "we should work together to overcome all of this global issues."

Armed clashes between the two neighbours took place earlier this month, prompting calls for calm and restraint by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

The clashes had reportedly killed several people and injured many others. Tens of thousands of villagers nearby the disputed areas had fled their homes.

Although Thailand had called for bilateral talks for resolving the border dispute, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Hor Namhong said "bilateral talk has failed since 2008" adding that there is now a need for third party intervention.

He welcomed the Security Council press statement and ASEAN's involvement in the issue.

Tensions first escalated between the two countries in July 2008 following the build-up of military forces near the Preah Vihear temple, which dates back to the 11th century and is located on the Cambodian side of the border.

The Hindu temple was inscribed on the World Heritage List of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) that same month.