Thailand, Cambodia hold talks on ceasefire in border conflict

Bangkok [Thailand], December 25: Thailand and Cambodia resumed talks on Wednesday on a durable ceasefire in their border conflict that erupted again earlier this month, both sides announced, according to The Nation newspaper and other Thai media.
A meeting between senior military officers took place at a border checkpoint in Chanthaburi Province in eastern Thailand and lasted just 35 minutes, the outlets reported.
The talks, which are set to continue for several days, are being seen as the most significant step by both sides to date to halt hostilities since the start of renewed fighting more than two weeks ago.
According to the reports, the brief meeting on Wednesday was aimed at preparing the ground for talks at defence minister level on Saturday.
In the interim, discussions within a joint committee on border issues is to continue at the state secretary level.
If these talks lead to agreement, the meeting at the ministerial level will take place, a Thai Defence Ministry spokesman told journalists in Bangkok.
A spokeswoman for the Cambodian Defence Ministry said the ministers' meeting was intended to find solutions to restoring stability between the two countries, the AKP state news agency reported.
Fighting has broken out at a number of points along the roughly 800-kilometre Thai-Cambodian border. Each side accuses the other of targeting civilians, with both sides rejecting the allegations.
The conflict stems from a decades-long dispute over territorial claims. Hundreds of thousands of people on both sides of the border have been displaced.
Serious fighting erupted in July, followed by a ceasefire agreed after a few days.
In November, the ceasefire was suspended following a renewed border incident, and since December 7, the situation has deteriorated following a cross-border exchange of fire.
Source: Qatar Tribune