BANGKOK: Thailand is open to Malaysia mediating in efforts to find a negotiated solution to its bloody conflict with Cambodia, its foreign ministry spokesman told AFP on Friday (July 25).
The two neighbours are locked in their most intense fighting in more than a decade, battling with artillery and ground troops over sections of their disputed 800-km (500-mile) border.
The crisis will come before the UN Security Council on Friday and multiple major powers have called for a ceasefire and negotiations.
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Thai foreign ministry spokesman Nikorndej Balankura said Bangkok was open to talks, possibly aided by Malaysia.
"We are ready, if Cambodia would like to settle this matter via diplomatic channels, bilaterally, or even through Malaysia, we are ready to do that. But so far we have not had any response," Nikorndej told AFP.
Malaysia currently holds the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) regional bloc, of which Thailand and Cambodia are both members.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said in a Facebook post late Thursday he had spoken with Thailand's acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet.
He called on both sides to stop fighting and seek a diplomatic solution.
"I welcome the positive signals and willingness shown by both Bangkok and Phnom Penh to consider this path forward," he wrote.
Nikorndej said that in the call, Anwar sought to explore "whether we can deescalate the situation... whether there is the possibility to hold talks".
But the two sides traded deadly artillery salvos on Friday for a second day, with acting PM Phumtham warning of a risk that the clashes could develop into war. - AFP
