BANGKOK, Nov 8 (TNA) -- The Thai Foreign Affairs Ministry’s Department of Treaties and Legal Affairs is now studying laws involving the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Thailand and its neighbour Cambodia as agreements specified under its terms must be reviewed as a result of the current diplomatic row, said Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Sunday.
Defending his government’s decision not to scrap the MoU immediately, as it needs approval by Parliament first, Mr. Abhisit said the ministry is studying all the laws related to the MoU and his government has to cease the negotiations process with Cambodia.
If the process is continued, it could be interpreted as a conflict of interest, therefore, a review has to be made and send to the cabinet for its consideration, he said. “Until now, we’re not ready to continue the negotiations as we’ve to protect out interests,” said Mr. Abhisit.
Both countries recalled their ambassadors after Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen appointed Thailand’s ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra as his economic adviser to the Cambodian government.
The MoU on the Area of their Overlapping Maritime Claims to the Continental Shelf, dated 18 June 2001 was signed by then-foreign minister Surakiart Sathirathai and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An during the Thaksin administration.
Mr. Abhisit said his government would review whether the MoU will continue in force or not, or could be amended by his government.
On calls by Surin Pitsuwan, secretary-general of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), urging the pact’s foreign ministers to help resolve the political conflict between the two countries, Mr. Abhisit reiterated that Cambodia must be sincere in cherishing relations by strictly following every related treaty and law.
“It’s up to Cambodia to decide,” he said. Mr. Abhisit went on to say that if negotiations on the MoU must proceed, Thailand must not be at a disadvantage and we have to respect our system and not allow outsiders to discredit us. (TNA)
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