Thai soldiers greet Cambodian soldiers near the Cekakiri Svarak pagoda of the Preah Vihear temple, about 245 km (152 miles) north of Phnom Penh, July 24, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    BANGKOK, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej said Thursday that his Cambodian counterpart has told him that Cambodia would withdraw its petition filed earlier with the United Nations Security Council on a border dispute, and that the two sides will hold a bilateral talk on Monday.

    Samak told reporters that he just talked to Cambodian premier Hun Sen, and the two agreed to hold a meeting on ministerial levelin Siem Reap, Cambodia on July 28, according to a report on the Bangkok Post website.

Cambodian soldiers stand guard at the Cekakiri Svarak pagoda near the Preah Vihear temple, 245km (152 miles) north of Phnom Penh, July 24, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    Thailand's former Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama had resigned from the post early this month, following a court ruling that found it an unconstitutional act for Noppadon to sign the Thai-Cambodian Joint Communique in June, which endorsed Thailand's support for Cambodia's application with the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to list the ancient Preah Vihear temple at the disputed border area as World Heritage Site.

    The UNESCO approved the application from Cambodia earlier this month despite Thailand's withdrawal of support, 46 years after the International Court of Justice ruled to confirm Cambodia's ownership of the 11th-century Hindu temple, which had been claimed by both Cambodia and Thailand.

    The two neighbors have also been engaged in a conflict about a 4.6-square km border area claimed by both sides adjacent to the temple, an issue which was boiled again amidst Thailand's recent domestic political turmoil. The opponents of the Samak government claimed its earlier endorsement of support for Cambodia' s World Heritage bid would put Thailand at a disadvantage in border demarcation.

    The atmosphere has intensified after both countries dispatched more troops to the disputed border area.

    Samak's remarks on Thursday came after the Cambodia filed a complaint with the Security Council to ask for UN to help resolve the border dispute, but ASEAN, the regional bloc of which Thailand and Cambodia are both members, has expressed the wish to leave the matter be solved on a bilateral level, rather than to bother the UN.

    It is not known yet if the Samak-government would complete the expected cabinet reshuffle to have the Foreign Ministry top post filled by Monday so that to have a proper representative to be engaged in the talks with the Cambodian Foreign Minister.

    Meanwhile, the UN Security Council convened an one-hour special session on the Thai-Cambodia border row Thursday upon Cambodia's petition to decide whether to referee, but has postponed a resolution decision, according to Thai Ambassador to the UN Don Pramudwinai.

    The Security Council is expected to reconvene the discussion later in the evening Bangkok time, according the Thai envoy to the UN.

Where is the Thai-Cambodian border dispute to go?

    Khao Preah Vihear, Sri Sa Ket Province, Thailand, July 24 (Xinhua) -- The Thai-Cambodian border dispute on the controversial area around the Preah Vihear Temple, an 11th-century-built Hindu temple which was historically claimed sovereignty by both countries, is now puzzling the outside, though it is never a new issue between the two countries. Full story

Thai: No more response to Cambodia on border dispute

    BANGKOK, July 23 (Xinhua) -- The Thai government will avoid responding to Cambodia on the border dispute near Preah Vihear temple, Thailand's Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej said here on Wednesday. Full story

Thai-Cambodia border meeting fails to meet breakthrough, but both promise no force 

    BANGKOK, July 21 (Xinhua) -- The special meeting of the Thai-Cambodian General Border Committee (GBC) concluded Monday evening with both Thailand and Cambodia agreed not to use force to settle their dispute over the borderline near Preah Vihear Temple.  Full story

Cambodia turns down Thai request to review border lines

    PHNOM PENH, July 21 (Xinhua) -- The Cambodian side Monday turned down the Thai side's request to review the border lines, during the meeting of the General Border Committee (GBC) between both countries held in Thai province of Sa Kaew, said a senior Cambodian official. Full story

ASEAN to help resolve Thai-Cambodian border dispute

     SINGAPORE, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will help member states Thailand and Cambodia end the tense border dispute over an ancient temple, ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan said on Tuesday.Full story