Insights on the Cambodian-Thai Border Situation
Council members are discussing the format for the Council’s meeting with the Cambodian and Thai foreign ministers and the foreign minister of Indonesia on Monday, 14 February. Thai foreign minister, Kasit Piromya , and Cambodian foriegn minister, Hor Namhong, are expected to present their respective positions and Indonesia’s foreign minister, Marty Natalegawa, will speak on behalf of ASEAN.
While various formats have been suggested the emerging consensus appears to be for a closed meeting in the chamber. This has led to further discussion on the wording for the agenda item for the meeting but no decision has been made on this as yet. Council members are also considering their options for Council action following the briefings but no decisions have been made and much may depend on whether the parties are able to present a credible prospects for a ceasefire and subsequent steps to resolve the issue.
A press statement seems likely reinforcing the points made in the elements to the press read out by Brazil, as Council president, on Monday but not going much further.
In related developments, Natalegawa has called for an ASEAN meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers on 22 February to discuss “regional and international issues’ which is understood to mean that the foreign ministers will be talking about the Cambodian-Thai border situation.