Malaysia is hopeful that the Terms of Reference (TOR) for the establishment of the ASEAN Observer Team (AOT) will be finalised by Cambodia and Thailand at the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur next month.
Malaysia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Dato’ Seri Utama Haji Mohamad bin Haji Hasan said Malaysia, as the current ASEAN chair, looks forward to the agreement being reached to strengthen the AOT’s role along the shared border by the two countries.
“We are very grateful that both countries have, up to now, continued to respect the agreement signed in Putrajaya last July, and we want it to be finalised,” he said.
“After that, it will be for both countries to negotiate the resolution of their border issues, as such matters are bilateral. Malaysia upholds a policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of other nations, in accordance with the ASEAN Charter.”
The Foreign Minister made these remarks at a press conference held at Malaysia’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations on Friday. The event followed a quadrilateral meeting involving the United States, Malaysia, Cambodia, and Thailand, which took place on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
The meeting was chaired by US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and attended by Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn. Mohamad represented Malaysia in his capacity as facilitator and coordinator.
Cambodia and Thailand have long been embroiled in a territorial dispute over their 817-kilometre shared border. The conflict escalated on July 24 when both sides exchanged fire. The brief violence ended on July 28 following an agreement reached at a special meeting hosted by Malaysia in Putrajaya.
Media Selangor
