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SINGAPORE : Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has brushed aside a proposal by Asean secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan to allow other bloc members to mediate the Thailand-Cambodia dispute.

Mr Abhisit said yesterday the ongoing diplomatic spat between Thailand and Cambodia will not affect cooperation among Asean members so the problem must be solved by the two countries.

However, Mr Abhisit said he is ready to clarify the situation with Indonesian President Susilo Yudhoyono, whom he is meeting this morning on the final day of the three-day 17th Apec summit in Singapore.

He said Thailand did not have to have bilateral talks with Cambodia.

"The schedule is tight," said Mr Abhisit, adding that Cambodia is not an Apec member, but that Prime Minister Hun Sen has taken part in the Singapore summit at the invitation of Thailand, the current Asean chair.

Asean members will hold talks with the United States after the end of the Apec summit.

Mr Surin yesterday expressed concern over the diplomatic dispute between Thailand and Cambodia and called on a resolution before the talks between Asean and the US.

He said the other eight Asean countries, excluding Thailand and Cambodia, wanted to hear clarification of the situation between Thailand and Cambodia.

"It is possible that some Asean members will discuss this issue when they meet each other before holding talks with the US this evening," Mr Surin said.

"Conflict between Thailand and Cambodia is now beyond the internal affairs of both countries."

It has now gone beyond a technical issue such as border demarcation or the Preah Vihear temple issue.

Democrat Party spokesman Buranat Samutarak yesterday said Asean members should know well the dispute between Thailand and Cambodia was started by Cambodia, not Thailand.

Recalling the ambassadors from the two countries back to their homelands last week was the changing point and many countries now believed the problem might affect them, said Mr Surin.

He accepted that other Asean members voiced concerns that the spat might expand beyond this point, which would jeopardise the effectiveness and credibility of Asean. Phnom Penh refused to extradite Thaksin Shinawatra to Thailand after he landed in Cambodia on Tuesday.

After Thailand and Cambodia recalled their ambassadors, Bangkok said it would terminate a memorandum of understanding with Cambodia on maritime disputes.

Cambodia expelled the Thai embassy's first secretary. On Thursday, the Phnom Penh government arrested a Thai engineer working with Cambodia Air Traffic Services on spy charges.

16/11/09
Bangkok Post