At the UN, Cambodia has reiterated its clear position regarding the current conflict with Thailand. The Kingdom is making all efforts to de-escalate tensions and rebuild trust with the neighbouring country, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
In a September 29 press release, the ministry said that foreign minister Prak Sokhonn, who is attending the 80th UN General Assembly (UNGA80), has seized the opportunity to brief the foreign ministers of several nations on the latest updates regarding the situation.
He has met with UN Secretary General António Guterres, as well as the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross and the foreign ministers of Japan, South Korea, Hungary, Saint Lucia, Norway, Russia and Gambia.
“He reiterated Cambodia’s position to making every effort to de-escalate the tensions, rebuild trust and implement fully and sincerely the recent agreements towards normalisation of our bilateral relations,” said the statement.
Sokhonn also met with his Thai counterpart Sihasak Phuangketkeow and attended the 1+3 Meeting, consisting of the US deputy secretary of state and the foreign ministers of Cambodia, Malaysia and Thailand, to reaffirm the shared commitment to resolve the border dispute peacefully by restoring trust toward normalisation for mutual benefit for the two countries and peoples, it added.
While addressing the general assembly, Sokhonn raised Thailand’s latest unprovoked attack on Cambodia, which occurred on the afternoon of September 27.
“He firmly rejected the allegation that Cambodian forces had opened fire first, stressing that Cambodian troops neither engaged in such action nor retaliated, thereby underscoring Cambodia’s resolute commitment to peace,” said the release.
