Monday, July 21, 2008
Asean FMs Urge Utmost Restraint Amid Thai-Cambodian Border Tensions
Source: Antara News

Singapore, (ANTARA News) - The Foreign Ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Sunday night urged Thailand and Cambodia to exercise utmost restraint and resolve peacefully their border dispute.

"We urged both sides to exercise utmost restraint and resolve this issue amicably, in the spirit of ASEAN solidarity and good neighborliness," Singapore’s Foreign Minister George Yeo said in a statement issued after the grouping’s ministerial meeting informal working dinner on Sunday night.

The ministers also hoped the General Border Commission (GBC) between the two neighboring countries which will be meeting Monday, and other bilateral talks, will find a way to defuse the situation.

Recognizing the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the region, the Foreign Ministers also decided to offer their facilities to be placed at the disposal of Cambodia and Thailand, in the event that they felt the need for further support to find an early resolution to the issue.

Both Thailand and Cambodia affirmed that they would abide by their ASEAN and international obligations and exert their utmost efforts to find a peaceful solution to the issue, George Yeo said.

Meanwhile, George Yeo said in a separate statement that the Foreign Ministers reiterated that the Myanmar Government should engage in a meaningful dialogue with all political groups, and work towards a peaceful transition to democracy in the near future.

The foreign ministers also encouraged Myanmar to continue working closely with the Good Offices of the UN Secretary-General and his Special Advisor Ibrahim Gambari in ensuring an inclusive process towards national reconciliation.

They stressed the importance of Gambari`s work in helping Myanmar move forward, welcomed the Myanmar Government`s invitation last week to Gambari to visit Myanmar next month and reiterated their call for Myanmar to extend its fullest cooperation to Gambari.

The Singapore foreign minister issued the above-mentioned statements ahead of the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting which will be officially opened by the city state’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Monday.