Suthep spurns Surakiart's call

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban on Friday brushed aside former foreign minister Surakiart Sathirathai's call for the government to initiate talks with Cambodia to normalise relations between the two countries.

Mr Surakiart made the suggestionl during a seminar on Thai-Cambodian relations at Chulalongkorn University on Thursday.  He also said the Thai-Cambodian conflict should be raised for discussion in the Asean forum.

Mr Suthep said the conflict was between two counries and it should not be made a problem for Asean.

"It is not that we fear it would be a loss of face. It is a difference of thinking. Mr Surakiart may have his own thinking, but the government thinks a problem between two countries should not be taken to Asean or a higher level," Mr Suthep said.

He said it would take some time before the two countries reach a good understanding.  As long as the core cause of the conflict remains unchanged it would be difficult to hold talks, he said. 

Relations between Thailand and Cambodia plunged after former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was appointed economic adviser to the Cambodian government and personal adviser to Prime Minister Hun Sen and Hun Sen's refusal to allow Thaksin's extradition sparked a diplomatic spat between the two countries.

Mr Suthep denied knowing anything about a report that the Cambodian government would be asked to strip Thaksin of the advisory post, saying he did not know what steps the Foreign Ministry had taken so far.

He said the conflict between the two countries was limited to a diplomatic disagreement, while military relations remained intact. Soldiers of the two countries had been in good communication to prevent tensions along the border, he added.

"We neighbours may have a quarrel, but that should not be allowed to develop to fighting. We have to maintain peace," Mr Suthep said.

Mr Suthep, who is in charge of security affairs, said the Thai-Cambodian Joint Border Committe meeting (JBC) would proceed as normal and there would not be a border closure because it would affect the lives of people living along both sides of the border.