Hun Sen, Thaksin hold talks on improving ties
Hun Sen, Thaksin hold talks on improving ties
Associated Press, Kuala Lumpur
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra held talks on Monday on normalizing ties between their neighboring countries, a month after anti-Thai riots in Cambodia plunged relations to their lowest level in years.
"We try our best not to increase the problem, but to reduce any differences and improve relations," Hun Sen told reporters after a 45-minute meeting with Thaksin on the sidelines of the Non-Aligned Movement summit in Kuala Lumpur.
Thaksin told Hun Sen that full restoration of diplomatic and economic relations between their two countries hinged on Cambodia paying compensation to Thai companies looted and torched in the riots and arresting those guilty for the crimes, Thai reporters who attended a closed-doors briefing by Thaksin told The Associated Press.
Thailand demanded reparations from its poorer neighbor after Cambodian mobs rioted Jan. 29 in Phnom Penh, partially destroying the Thai Embassy and Thai-owned businesses. Damage estimates ran as high as 2 billion baht (US$46.5 million).
There were minor injuries but no confirmed deaths in the incident. Thailand evacuated hundreds of its citizens from Phnom Penh, closed its border with Cambodia and downgraded diplomatic and economic relations.
It was the first meeting between the two government leaders since the riots. Thailand has been gradually restoring relations, sending back a small diplomatic team, but not an ambassador, and reopening border checkpoints but for trade only.
The riots followed rumors that a Thai TV actress had insulted Cambodia by suggesting that Thailand had a claim to Cambodia's fabled Angkor temples, which symbolize the past glories of the Khmer Empire to modern Cambodians, who have known little in recent decades but war and poverty.
In an apparent reference to his political opponents, Hun Sen stressed that Cambodia would "not allow third parties to benefit" from the strain in bilateral ties. Hun Sen's government has dismissed allegations that he had helped incite the violence with a speech against the Thai actress.
Hun Sen added his government was considering helping Thai businesses affected by the riots, and talks on compensation were ongoing.