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| Thailand's former premier Thaksin Shinawatra (L) greets red-shirted supporters at a hotel in Siem Reap November 12, 2009. (Xinhua/Reuters File Photo) |
By Thaweeporn Kummetha, Shi Xianzhen
BANGKOK, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinnawatra's resignation as Cambodian government's economic advisor marks a good start for the two countries to start negotiations on border dispute, a veteran Thai expert on international relations said Wednesday.
CAMBODIA TO GET BENEFIT
"In fact, undemarcated border area is not a big problem and could be solved through negotiation, but the involvement of Thaksin made the dispute more complicated," Varasakdi Mahatdhanobol, a political scientist at Bangkok-based Chulalongkorn University said in an interview with Xinhua.
He expected that bilateral ties between Thailand and Cambodia will be in a good light after Thaksin's resignation.
If Cambodia can overlook the dispute and maintain good relations with Thailand, it will benefit from Thailand in the long run, he said.
Relations between the two neighboring countries deteriorated over border conflicts and the appointment of self-exiled premier Thaksin as economic advisor. The ties went downhill after Cambodia proposed a management for the Preah Vihear temple to the World Heritag Committee which was strongly opposed by Bangkok.
Bilateral ties have been improved after the two sides reinstated their ambassadors after Thaksin's resignation.
