"The issue between Thailand and Cambodia must be addressed and can only be addressed bilaterally because this is a border issue that needs to be negotiated between them. But at the same time, there is always space for ASEAN, and members of ASEAN, to support the bilateral efforts," Mr Natalegawa told a news conference after a 40-minute talk with Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya.
In his capacity as current chair of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Mr Natalegawa said ASEAN closely followed the situation and received information from Cambodia and Thailand.
He met Cambodia`s Foreign Minister Hor Namhong in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh on Monday.
Thai and Cambodia soldiers have exchanged artillery fire across the border near Preah Vihear temple daily since last Friday, with each accusing the other of firing first and that resulted in casualties on both sides, including civilians.
The Indonesian foreign minister said it would take time to review the information received but both Thailand and Cambodia reaffirmed to resolve their problem through dialogue and finding a way to ensure the lasting effect of the truce.
"Certainly Indonesia, as Indonesia, and even more as ASEAN, we`ll be very happy, if we are included in any conversation or communication that the two governments may have on ways and means to ensure the longevity, the continuity of the ceasefire," he said.
In a media briefing after the talks, Thai foreign ministry spokesman Thani Thongphakdi said Foreign Minister Kasit clarified Thailand`s stance and response to the incident to the current ASEAN chair.
"ASEAN and other forums can support the process but in the final analysis, it would have to be bilateral negotiations between both sides, which I think has been our position all along," Mr Thani said.
He added that ASEAN supported Thailand and Cambodia to hold talks under the existing framework of the Thai-Cambodian Joint Commission on Demarcation for Land Boundary (JBC) in Thailand.
He said that since both countries intended to hold the next JBC meeting as soon as possible, Mr Kasit called his Cambodian counterpart Hor Namhong to discuss the earliest mutually convenient date for the said meeting and expected that the meeting could convene during the fourth week of February.
Thailand sees no need to internationalise the conflict to a regional level or draw the United Nations Security Council into the dispute as channels for bilateral talks still exist, the spokesman said.
KR-BPY/H-RN
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
