Cambodian and Thai governments will have a top-level meeting on July 21 in Thai province of Sa Keaw near the border to solve the problem of Thai troops deployment at a Buddhist pagoda inside Cambodia, a senior Cambodian official said Thursday.
The General Border Committees (GBC) from both countries will meet to find the solution, as Thai troops deployment at the Preah Vihear Pagoda, about 200 meters from the Preah Vihear Temple, entered its third day, Khieu Kahnarith, Cambodian Information Minister and government spokesman, told reporters at a press conference inside his ministry.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Tea Banh will lead the Cambodian delegation, while the Thai side might be headed by Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, who is also National Defense Minister, or other representatives, he said.
"We want the situation to return to the status prior to July 15, " he said, adding that Thai troops there had increased to around 400.
"Cambodian troops have the similar number. We don't want to deploy more troops," he said.
"We are not weak but we want to have stable situation," he said.
Thai troops claimed that they stationed on disputed areas at the pagoda next to the Preah Vihear Temple, said the minister.
"If Thai troops move further inside, they will invade Cambodia and the difficulty of the situation for both countries will be out of our estimation," he said.
Meanwhile Thursday, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen sent an official letter in English to his Thai counterpart, saying that " unfortunately, as of July 17, 2008, the situation is worsening due to the continuing increase in the numbers of Thai military inside and around the area of the Keo Sikha Kiri Svara Pagoda (namely the Preah Vihear Pagoda) and the presence of Thai protesters."
