Cambodia urges Thailand to restore diplomatic ties

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — Cambodia has called for the restoration of diplomatic relations with Thailand, arguing that stronger diplomatic engagement is needed to prevent further misunderstandings and resolve bilateral disputes without resorting to military means.

Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn made the appeal in an interview aired by the National Television of Cambodia (TVK) on Tuesday evening, following the second meeting of the Cambodia-Thailand Conciliation Commission under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Prak said restoring diplomatic representation would give both sides a more effective means of addressing disagreements through dialogue, particularly as relations remain strained. He also highlighted the role of diplomacy in maintaining peaceful relations and fostering mutual respect between the two peoples.

Diplomatic representation between the neighbouring countries has been reduced to the level of second secretaries, which Prak described as the lowest level of representation between them.

Efforts to reverse the downgrade have been discussed previously. The two prime ministers reached an agreement in Kuala Lumpur last year to restore diplomatic ties to an appropriate level, with their foreign ministers assigned to work out its implementation.

The two sides subsequently held several rounds of discussions and agreed on dates for their deputy heads of mission to return to their respective posts. The plan was put on hold, however, as tensions between the countries intensified.

A further attempt came in May this year, when the prime ministers agreed to confidence-building measures that included returning deputy heads of mission. The countries exchanged diplomatic notes after the meeting, but the arrangement has not yet been carried out.

Prak said Cambodia continued to view the restoration of diplomatic ties as necessary for creating a functioning channel to settle disputes through diplomacy instead of military action.

He called on Thailand to follow through on its declared support for dialogue by putting the agreements already reached into practice.