Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Thailand and Cambodia have agreed on the terms of reference for the implementation of Indonesia`s proposal to station observers in their disputed border area, Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said.

"Cambodia has sent us a formal statement through diplomatic note about their agreement on the terms of reference (TOR) as proposed by Indonesia. Thailand also agreed but has not yet given us a formal statement," Marty said here after meeting with his counterpart from Thailand, Kasit Piromya, on the sidelines of the 18th ASEAN summit taking place at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC).

Marty said, now the focus was on how to realize the commitment of Thailand and Cambodia on having observers in their border areas.

"As you know Thailand has its own understanding about the desired conducive atmosphere, and so has Cambodia. So, in the next two days (ASEAN summit), I probably will meet foreign ministers of the two countries to try to find common ground regarding the sending of Indonesian observers to their border area," Marty said.

Marty expressed appreciation for the commitment of Thailand and Cambodia to continue pursuing the diplomatic path to solve their border problem.

The Thai-Cambodian border conflict has so far caused the death of 15 people including civilians.

The border dispute stems from the two countries` overlapping claims to the area around a sacred temple, Preah Vihear, which has been recognized bye UNESCO as a world heritage.

The ASEAN summit which was scheduled to take place at the JCC on May 7-8, 2011 will be opened by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

ASEAN groups Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.(*)

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Editor: Jafar M Sidik
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