On 02 February 2010, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation,  His Excellency Saadi Salama Altumaizi, Palestinian Newly-Appointed Ambassador, was allowed to meet His Excellency Ouch Borith, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

During the meeting, His Excellency Saadi Salama Altumaizi admired Samdech Techo HUN SEN, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia as a smart leader that he has never met before. Moreover, under the brilliant leadership of Samdech Techo HUN SEN, Cambodia, former war-torn country, has become a peaceful country with significant progress in many fields. So, he thought that Palestine would take Cambodia as a model for conflict resolution, national reconciliation and war ending.

His Excellency Ouch Borith told His Excellency Saadi Salama Altumaizi about Cambodia’s stance in supporting the Palestinian people’s struggle for its self-determination and establishment of a Palestinian state which will co-exist peacefully with Israel and we wish to see a peaceful settlement between Palestine and Israel. Especially, we don’t want to see anyone attacking or using violence against each other. So far, Palestine and Cambodia have mutually supported at the United Nations and on the International Arena.
 
 In response, His Excellency Saadi Salama Altumaizi, on behalf of Palestinian people and government, expresses deep gratitude to Cambodian leaders who always support Palestinian people and authority.

He added that Palestine is not the member, but an observer of the United Nations and Palestine has supported Cambodia as a non- permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for 2013-2014.

Press and Documentation Dept.

PRESS RELEASE

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia wishes to make clarification in response to Thailand’s reaction as published in the media concerning the visit of Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen to the border area as follows.

1-The Bangkok Post published a distorted report online on 7 February 2010 that Thailand’s Second Army Area Commander Veewarith Chornsamrit led a delegation to welcome Samdech Techo Prime Minister Hun Sen on his visit to the Preah Vihear Temple.   However, contrary to the claim, it was Samdech Techo Prime Minister Hun Sen who allowed the Thai Commander to come to meet him at Preah Vihear Temple, where Samdech Techo Prime Minister unequivocally stressed that it is the Temple of Cambodia and it is Cambodian territory.

2-The Bangkok Post also reported that Thai Commander Veewarith Chornsamrit was assigned to welcome Samdech Techo Prime Minister Hun Sen to send a message that Thailand is firm on its ownership claim over the disputed territory of 4.6 km2 near the Temple of Preah Vihear.  However, in fact the Thai Commander did not raise anything as distortedly reported by the Bangkok Post.

Such untrustworthy report clearly shows that the Bangkok Post is perfidious and falsely reporting to blindly mislead the public.

3-The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand again issued a press release on 7 February 2010 which stated that during his visit to the border area, Samdech Techo Prime Minister Hun Sen “might enter into Thai territory......the Cambodian side must first inform and request prior permission from the Thai Government”.  On this point, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia already issued a statement on 5 February 2010 that Samdech Techo Prime Minister Hun Sen’s visit is only within the Cambodian territory.

4- The Bangkok Post also reported today that Thaland’s Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva will use Samdech Prime Minister Hun Sen’s comment to explain the World Heritage Committee that the area around Preah Vihear Temple belongs to Thailand.  Such a statement clearly shows the ambitious greed and duplicity of the Thai Prime Minister, who wants to annex Cambodian territory, blatantly and illegally.

Phnom Penh, 07 February 2010

Statement of the Spokesperson of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Kingdom of Cambodia concerning Thailand’s reaction to the visit of Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen to the border area
----------------------

Referring to the visit of Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, to the Western border region on 6 February 2010, the deputy spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand made a statement as posted on the Bankok Post online today that “Thailand has not opposed to the visit by Prime Minister Hun Sen to the border area and the Foreign Ministry will send a high-level official to welcome him”.  Thailand’s unilateral map showing Cambodia’s Tamone Thom Temple located in Thai territory is also posted on the same website.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva of Thailand has been reported to have told reporters after chairing a meeting of the National Security Council of Thailand that “if Mr. Hun Sen wishes to travel to the 4.6 sq km border area... talks must be held prior to the visit”.

With respect to these statements and map, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia wishes to respond as follows:

1-Even if Thailand did oppose to such a visit, it would be pointless and nonsense.

2-It is very surprising and beyond comprehension that Thailand would consider sending a high-level official to welcome Samdech Techo Hun Sen who is on a tour in the territory of Cambodia.

3-Thailand’s continued use of its unilateral map has been a major cause of border tension.  According to the Minutes on the Demarcation, N° 22 on Sector 4 of the  Commission for the Delimitation of Frontiers between Indochina and Siam entitled “Sentier dit Prasat Tamone”, dated 30 December 1908, and the Planche d’indications topographiques  TAMONE THOM TEMPLE is clearly situated within the territory of Cambodia.

4-Regarding Prime Minister Abhisit’s remark, Cambodia does not need to hold talk with Thailand prior to the visit of Samdech Techo Hun Sen to the area of 4.6 sq km adjacent to the TEMPLE OF PREAH VIHEAR. This area is located well within the territory of Cambodia according to the “Annex I” map used by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for its judgment in 1962.  This “Annex I” Map was produced by the Franco-Siamese Commissions for the Delimitation of the Boundary in the Dangkrek area (PREAH VIHEAR area).

Phnom Penh, 05 February 2010