Philippines volunteers to mediate between Cambodia and Thailand

MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III offered to mediate between Cambodia and Thailand, whose dispute is a hot topic in the 18th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Aquino even offered the best resort in the country as venue for the talks.

In a tete-a-tete with reporters on Saturday in Jakarta, Indonesia, Aquino revealed he was approached by Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Veijajive to help in mediating between him and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.

Aquino and Abhisit are good friends. Hun Sen, on the other hand, is the President’s smoking buddy. 

“I told Prime Minister Hun Sen, 'we are really interested in solving this problem and all you have to do is tell us how we can help. If you like us to provide you a venue, we will give you the best resort there is in the Philippines. I will go to the extent of preparing coffee for you if that will calm everyone down,'” he said.

Hun Sen, on the other hand, did not give a response.

“That was what was hurtful. He did not give any response. He just smiled, as if saying thank you for the offer. Maybe because it was just minutes after his heated statement,” Aquino said.

He said the country is not trying to meddle. Nonetheless, “it is really in the interest of the entire Asean for the Cambodia-Thailand row to be resolved,” he added.

Fighting along the borders has been raging for months now. Thailand and Cambodia have been trying to seize from each other ancient temples, in particular the Preah Vihear temple.

 

Hun Sen brought up the topic during a plenary meeting on Saturday.

 

ASBCBN News