Thailand calls for Cambodian reforms

Thailand calls for Cambodian reforms

BANGKOK (AP): Despite the United Nations' recent decision to admit Cambodia, Thailand is still cautious about allowing the country to join the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, a Foreign Ministry official said on Monday.

"We don't want to polarize ASEAN over this issue. There should be consensus," Foreign Ministry spokesman Kobsak Chutikul said.

Kobsak said the Southeast Asian regional bloc was split on Cambodia, with two countries, Singapore and the Philippines, against rushing to admit the troubled nation at next week's summit in Hanoi.

Malaysia, Myanmar and some others, however, are strongly advocating that ASEAN admit Cambodia at the Hanoi meeting, and Kobsak said the UN decision added weight to their position.

The UN decided to recognize Cambodia on Friday following a political settlement between Prime Minister Hun Sen and his adversary and former Co-Prime Minister Prince Norodom Ranariddh.