Bangkok: Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkaew has raised concerns at the United Nations regarding Cambodia's preparedness for negotiations over the ongoing Thai-Cambodian border conflict. He emphasized that Thailand did not instigate the conflict and accused Cambodia of presenting itself as a victim of aggression.
According to Thai News Agency, Sihasak, in an interview, reiterated Thailand's position, stating that the country is committed to protecting its sovereignty and resolving threats from Cambodia. He highlighted Cambodia's denial and fabrication of narratives, pointing to incidents involving landmines and other past events. Sihasak further noted that international observers, including ASEAN, have confirmed Thailand's evidence of new landmines, as presented during the Ottawa Convention in Geneva.
The Foreign Minister stressed the importance of the international community understanding the real situation, as smaller countries can provoke incidents for their benefit. He indicated that Thailand would issue a letter to inform the international community, hoping to clarify that Thailand was not the aggressor. Despite this, he acknowledged that the international community desires dialogue between Thailand and Cambodia.
When questioned about the UN's call for negotiations, Sihasak remarked that Cambodia must first demonstrate readiness to negotiate. He pointed out that without Cambodia's genuine willingness, discussions would falter due to unfulfilled agreements. Consequently, Thailand intends to continue military actions until Cambodia is prepared to engage in meaningful negotiations.