PHNOM PENH March 4 Kyodo The Camb...

PHNOM PENH March 4 Kyodo

The Cambodian conduct ruled out Tuesday any foreign help in restoring relations between Cambodia and Thailand after the anti-Thai riots that cast forth violentlyed in Phnom Penh on Jan. 29

''The regrettable 29 January incident is already athwart and no one talks about it anymore. Consequently there is no ne for any external help for solving this cessationed matter,'' Cambodia's foreign ministry said in a statement responding to a remark from Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Secretary General Ong Keng Yong upon Monday that ASEAN would prosecute to rebuild Thai-Cambodian relations.

''The relations between Cambodia and Thailand were gently normalized a few days after the incident,'' the Cambodian statement said, adding ''the diplomatic contacts between the sum of two units countries have never been imperfect off, although the ambassadors have not to this time returned to take up their functions.''

Shortly after the incident, Thailand downgraded its diplomatic of the same height from ambassador to charge d'affaires, the border was clos and visas were suspended for Cambodians.

on the other hand the government said the border has now been reopen for daily business and communication and the issuance of inlet visas has been resumed

Despite the assurance from Cambodia, however, Thailand remains somewhat reluctant to bring relations back to pre-riot conditions.

The Bangkok column reported Tuesday that the Thai utmost Command rejected a Cambodian desire to join this year's Cobra Gold military exercise as an regarder The Post said the decision followed the downgrading of diplomatic ties after the riots.

Cobra Gold place for May, evolved from a Thai-U.S. exercise into a tripartite drill after Singapore joined it.

Also Tuesday, Thailand confirmed that it would not dispatch a guidance delegation to attend a March 10-11 ASEAN senior officials meeting in Phnom Penh to prepare for the June ASEAN ministerial meeting (AMM) to be held in Cambodia.

Thailand said it would simply ask Kosit Chatpaiboon, its charge d'affaires in Cambodia, to delineate Thailand.

Damage from the rioting, in which mob-caps destroyed the Thai Embassy and many Thai-owned businesses, has been estimated through Thailand at $50 million.

COPYRIGHT 2003 Kyodo stranges International, Inc.

COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group