A Thai official said Tuesday the government would prefer to solve an ongoing border dispute with Cambodia through bilateral talks, a day after Phnom Penh proposed adding it to the agenda of an Asean meeting later this month.
Thailand would prefer not to see the issued “internationalized,” a spokesman for the Thai Foreign Ministry said.
Asean leaders are expected to meet in Thailand Oct. 23 through Oct. 25.
The Cambodian request followed alleged remarks by Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Phiromya the dispute over Preah Vihear temple could be solved through a third party.
“The minister might have been quoted out of context in media reports,” Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Thani Thongpakdi told the English-language Nation on Tuesday.
Cambodian Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Koy Koung declined to comment on the media report. The ministry was waiting for a formal response, he said.
Thai Embassy officials could not be reached for comment.