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A JOINT border ceremony near Preah Vihear temple that was scheduled for Saturday and intended to promote good relations between Cambodian and Thai soldiers has been delayed until August 25, a Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) officer told the Post.

"We agreed to cancel the ceremony for [Saturday] and hold it on August 25 because the Thai side will be busy with a visit from a Thai delegation," said Ten Navun, a first lieutenant in RCAF's Battalion 404.

In addition to soldiers, monks and government officials were also slated to be present at the ceremony.

Soldiers have described near-constant tension at the border since UNESCO accepted Cambodia's application to enlist Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage site.

Ten Navun said Wednesday that he hopes the ceremony will contribute to the easing of hostilities.

"The ceremony will help us cooperate well, to forget the past tension and to develop along the border together," he said.