Malaysia Hopes Cambodia, Thailand Will Finalise Terms Of Reference For AOT Establishment At ASEAN Summit In KL - Mohamad
From Muhammad Faiz Baharin
NEW YORK, Sept 27 (Bernama) -- Malaysia hopes that the Terms of Reference (TOR) for the establishment of the ASEAN Observer Team (AOT) will be finalised by Cambodia and Thailand at the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur this October.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said that as ASEAN Chair, Malaysia looks forward to the move being realised to further strengthen the AOT’s role along the two countries’ border.
“We are very grateful that both countries have, up to now, continued to respect the agreement signed in Putrajaya last July, and we want it to be finalised.
“After that, it will be for both countries to negotiate the resolution of their border issues, as such matters are bilateral. Malaysia upholds a policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of other nations, in accordance with the ASEAN Charter,” he said.
Mohamad said this at a press conference at the Permanent Mission of Malaysia to the United Nations (UN) here on Friday, after a quadrilateral meeting between the United States, Malaysia, Cambodia, and Thailand, held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
The meeting, chaired by US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, was attended by Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn with Malaysia represented by Mohamad in his role as facilitator and coordinator.
Cambodia and Thailand have faced decades-long conflict over territory along their shared 817-kilometre border.
The dispute, which escalated on July 24 when both sides exchanged fire, ended on July 28 after Cambodia and Thailand reached an agreement at a special meeting hosted by Malaysia in Putrajaya.
-- BERNAMA
