PHNOM PENH: Cambodia as ASEAN chair will release the basic principles of joint statement of last week foreign ministers’ meeting tomorrow afternoon. The announcement was made after the meeting between Indonesia Foreign Minister Marty and deputy prime minister and foreign minister Hor Namhong in Phnom Penh today. Marty was in Phnom Penh as third leg after he visited Manila, Philippines and Hanoi, Vietnam to compromise ASEAN members to release the customary joint statement of foreign ministers’ meeting which failed to release last week after the bloc could not reach consensus in the dispute of the south china sea.
Manila and Hanoi seek the common voice from ASEAN to deal dispute of South China Sea against China. Some of ASEAN members did not support that. Reporting said: Cambodia is in position of ally of China. But in the press conference of closing meeting of foreign ministers in Phnom Penh, Minister Hor Namhong said: ASEAN is not hostage or tribunal to judge who is right or wrong. Minister noted that the dispute of the South China Sea must deal through international laws and law of sea in 1982.
Cambodia’s Foreign minister Hor Namhong said: “we hope tomorrow morning we will receive the approval from all Foreign Ministers of ASEAN bloc in the basic principles.” “We will tell you again tomorrow afternoon.” Minister adds. Minister stressed he will send his written letters to foreign ministers of ASEAN bloc today for seeking common approval and the replied results will know tomorrow. Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty said he is in “Intensive charter diplomacy’s effort and intensive working the phone’s effort” to purposes of which restore or reiterated what is the segment of fact is that “ASEAN continues remain to be united”. ASEAN was accused in the state of breakaway after they could not seek common voice.
“ASEAN continues remain to be united … for all common concerns and not leave especially on the dispute of the South China Sea.”Marty stresses, adding that Indonesia has been carried out for over the past 46 hours and in “full communication”. Indonesia is the broker to seek common approval from all members and consensus to push the bloc to release joint communiqué.
Marty said: ASEAN’s commitment to ensure the dispute of the South China Sea is resolved according to the international law and aw of the sea in 1982. Those are already pointed in public record of ASEAN‘s common position. ASEAN did not use force to deal issue and use peaceful means. “All ASEAN members remained committed to those principles,” Marty said. Observers noted: but ASEAN could not keep its principles, Thai armed forces occupied Cambodia’s territory near the temple of Preah Vihear in 2008. Even Indonesia has been working very hard through diplomatic ways; the problem of border issues is there. ASEAN urged Cambodia and Thailand to resume bilateral talks. Finally, Cambodia seeks the interpretation from the international court of justice over the piece of land of 4.6 km size, which was claimed by Thailand. Yesterday, Cambodia redeployed troops in compliance with the order of ICJ which ordered two sides to move from 17.3 square kilometers surrounding ancient temple of Preah Vihear. Now Cambodian side replaced by civil police. Cambodia is waiting Indonesian observers but the state is silent. The situation of border issue has eased since Thai PM Yingluck came to power in Bangkok. “Hopefully, border between Cambodia and Thailand will not teach a lesson for ASEAN through a bilateral mechanism and international laws, an analyst said. ASEAN is pushing to create the ASEAN community 2015 for common prosperity. (SEA WEEKLY)
