Monday, February 14, 2011

Thai FM to speak after UNSC meeting

14 Feb, 2011

Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya will hold a press conference on Tuesday after attending a meeting hosted by UN Security Council on border dispute with Cambodia on Monday, Foreign Ministry's spokesman Thani Thongpakdi said Monday.

The meeting is organised at the request of Cambodia following deadly cross-border fighting with Thailand last week in which three people were killed. Cambodia claimed that Thailand started the fighting near disputed site near Preah Vihear Temple while Thailand claimed otherwise.

Artillery shells fired by Cambodian troops set fire on many buildings including schools and houses and sent people taking shelters in bunkers in Si Sa Ket's Kantaralak district.

Cambodia called for the UN to step in while Thailand insisted the dispute should be solved on bilateral basis.

Thani said Kasit will attend the closed-door meeting at 10pm Bangkok time, Thani said. Marty Natalegawa, foreign minister of Indonesia, which is Asean chair, is also present in the meeting.

To start the meeting, an UNSC official will brief the background of the dispute and then Cambodia's Foreign Minster Hor Nam Hong will address his country's position and Kasit will deliver his speech.

Marty will give the closing speech, Thani said, each is expected to speak about 15-30 minutes.

Result of the meeting can come out in many forms such as resolution, UNSC chairperson's statement and chairperson's interview. Brazil is now chairperson of the UNSC.

It is possible that the participants of the meeting will talk to reporters in front of the meeting room.


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