Thai leader touched by President Aquino’s mediation offer

BANGKOK—Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva expressed his gratitude to President Aquino for offering to take an active role in pursuing a peaceful resolution to the renewed border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia.

In a news briefing at Government House here on Thursday, the Thai leader said he was “touched” by Mr. Aquino’s offer to be a facilitator in possible talks between Vejjajiva and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen to end the border row that has claimed 19 lives since fighting erupted anew a few weeks ago.

“First of all, we are all part of the Asean family. I mean that’s (Mr. Aquino’s initiative) very important and being co-founders of Asean, we know that the number one objective when this organization was formed is actually peace,” Vijjaiva told Filipino and Thai journalists.

The Philippines, Thailand and Cambodia belong to the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) along with Vietnam, Singapore, Burma (Myanmar), Brunei, Indonesia, Laos and Malaysia.

The Thai leader said it was critical “for Asean family members to express care for each other and therefore offer help to each other.”

“Therefore… as part of the same family, whenever there are troubles, I think it is only natural for good members of the family to express concern and to offer assistance when it is needed. And we are touched by that,” he added.