Cambodia, Laos to start marking border

Cambodia, Laos to start marking border

PHNOM PENH (DPA): Laos and Cambodia will begin marking sections of their disputed common border next month for the first time and hope to have all border disputes solved by the end of 2000, officials said on Monday after a meeting of the two country's prime ministers.

Visiting Lao Prime Minister Sisavath Keobounphanh met for more three hours with Prime Minister Hun Sen. The two men agreed that the two sides would meet at the remote frontier on May 27 to start marking undisputed areas.

Hun Sen and Sisavath also pledged to try to have all disputes on the border solved by the end of this year, said Var Kim Hong, head of Cambodia's border committee.

Laos and Cambodia have never agreed on their 540-kilometer border, much of which was previously inaccessible because it was held by Cambodian Khmer Rouge guerrillas.

Cambodia has ongoing border disputes with all three of its immediate neighbors, but has pledged to agree on a treaty with Vietnam by the end of this year.