BANGKOK, Thailand – Russia has expressed hope that Thailand and Cambodia will resolve their border dispute through dialogue, urging both sides to allow technical experts to determine a clear boundary, as Malaysia confirmed that the two countries have agreed to attend a special ASEAN foreign ministers’ meeting next week.
Russian Ambassador to Thailand Evgeny Tomikhin told reporters on Wednesday that Russia maintains friendly relations with both Thailand and Cambodia and does not interfere in the internal affairs of other nations. He described the escalation of tensions along the Thai–Cambodian border as regrettable, noting reports of military and civilian casualties.
Russia, he said, hopes both countries can find a peaceful and mutually acceptable solution to avoid further confrontation.
The ambassador noted that border disputes are common in regions formerly under colonial rule, citing Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam as examples of countries whose boundaries were drawn by former colonial powers, often using imprecise or inadequate maps that did not reflect realities on the ground.
Clear and well-documented borders are essential, Tomikhin said, though he acknowledged that defining boundaries can be especially complex when rivers are used as natural borders due to their changing courses. He cited the example of Russia and China, which conduct joint border surveys every 10 years, adding that negotiations between the two countries took more than 40 years to finalize.
He also observed that Thailand and Cambodia reportedly rely on different maps, making resolution difficult, and stressed that expert-level discussions are crucial, regardless of how long the process may take. Russia, he said, hopes both sides will pursue a solution that prevents further clashes.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim confirmed that Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to participate in a special ASEAN foreign ministers’ meeting to be held in Kuala Lumpur on December 22. The meeting aims to prevent further escalation of tensions along the border.
The meeting was originally scheduled for December 16 but was postponed after some ASEAN leaders expressed concern that the timing was too rushed.
Anwar said the goal is to persuade both countries to refrain from intensifying the situation. He noted that Thailand and Cambodia prefer the term “truce” rather than “ceasefire,” as the latter could imply formal acceptance of an agreement. He added that both sides have agreed to the deployment of an ASEAN Observer Team (AOT).
Malaysia’s Chief of Defence Forces is expected to visit the border area in the coming days to continue discussions at the military level. (TNA)
