KL prepared to go to Hague over row

KL prepared to go to Hague over row

KUALA LUMPUR (DPA): Malaysia is prepared to go to the
International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague to resolve a
row with Thailand over its plans to construct a 27 kilometer wall
along the Malaysia-Thai border, officials said yesterday.

But the officials stressed that the government of Prime
Minister Mahathir Mohamad would first exhaust all avenues for
talks with Bangkok before taking the matter to the ICJ.

"We are confident that our neighbors in Thailand will see that
our plan is legitimate. We are confident that they will view the
project objectively in the spirit of ASEAN cordiality," a Foreign
Ministry official said.

Thai Foreign Minister Kasem Kasemsri said recently that the
world court should be asked to rule on Malaysia's plans. Thai
Deputy Prime Minister Gen. Chavalit Yongchaiyudh said Malaysia
should suspend the project as it could "unnecessarily strain
relations" between the two countries".