BANGKOK, Feb 16 – Thai Defence Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan and his Cambodian counterpart Tea Banh will hold talks on establishing a permanent ceasefire along their countries’ disputed border as urged by the United Nations Security Council, said a senior Thai foreign ministry official on Wednesday.

Chavanond Intarakomalayasut, a secretary to the Thai foreign minister, made the statement following the latest skirmishes at the Thai-Cambodian border in Si Sa Ket’s Kantaralak district on Monday just few hours after the United Nations issued a statement calling for a permanent ceasefire from both sides and supporting bilateral talks to solve the border conflict.

Mr Chavanond stated the latest clashes may have a negative impact on the bilateral talks if Cambodia failed to stop firing into Thai territory.

MCOT