Cambodia won't discuss Thai row at ASEAN-US summit
Posted: 13 November 2009 2318 hrs

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PHNOM PENH - Cambodia will not address the diplomatic row involving fugitive former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra at this weekend's historic US-regional summit, said its foreign ministry Friday.

Cambodian authorities have charged a Thai man with spying and refused to extradite Thaksin to Thailand, as tensions between the two countries deepened this week while the billionaire visited in his new post as economic adviser.

"The Cambodian government will not mix the issue between Cambodia and Thailand with the first (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) ASEAN-US summit in Singapore this coming Sunday," Koy Kuong told AFP.

"And we also request that other ASEAN leaders not to mix this issue with the US-ASEAN summit," he added.

The statement appeared to be a response to ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan's pleas that the 10-country bloc should not be seen divided by the dispute at the meeting between US President Barack Obama and regional leaders.

After Cambodia expelled the first secretary to Thailand's embassy Thursday, authorities said that diplomat had worked with the alleged spy to gather Thaksin's flight schedule.

Thailand reciprocated, expelling Cambodia's first secretary from Bangkok.

Both countries recalled their respective ambassadors last week after Cambodia appointed Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted as Thailand's prime minister in a coup in 2006, as an economic adviser.

Thailand and Cambodia have fought a series deadly clashes on their border since July 2008 in a dispute over land around an ancient Cambodian temple that was granted UN World Heritage Status.

- AFP/ir