Asean chief appeals for maximum restraint

Surin

Surin further urged the Asean foreign ministers to assist both countries settle their bilateral dispute amicably and as soon as possible.

Surin, in a letter to the Asean foreign ministers Friday, informed them that he has received many inquiries and expressions of concern from Asean's Dialogue Partners and friends over the apparent deterioration of relations between Cambodia and Thailand, as evidenced in the recalling of their Ambassadors earlier this week.

Noting that the dispute could undermine the credibility of Asean, Surin said, "We in Asean cannot afford to be seen as being so seriously divided prior to the upcoming Apec economic leaders meeting and the historic Asean-US Leaders Meeting in Singapore this month."

Surin pointed out that in line with the spirit of the Asean Charter and the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) of 1976, all other member states in Asean are obliged to offer assistance to help fellow member states settle their bilateral disputes, even when the two disputing parties cannot agree to refer their dispute to any regional means of dispute settlement.

Article 16 of the TAC in particular provides for other State Parties to offer "all possible assistance" to help settle a bilateral dispute that could threaten regional stability and regional harmony. Moreover, the said Article further stipulates that "Parties to the dispute should be well disposed towards such offers of assistance".