DATE=4/25/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CAMBODIA / LAOS (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-261681
BYLINE=KAY JOHNSON
DATELINE=PHNOM PENH
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Cambodia and Laos are pledging to define their
long-disputed common border by the year 2001, at the
latest. As Kay Johnson reports from Phnom Penh, the
agreement was made during a meeting between the two
countries' prime ministers in the Cambodian capital.
TEXT: Cambodian and Laotian officials will meet along
their disputed border May 27th, to begin the process of
marking their 540-kilometer frontier for the first
time. The demarcation in the remote border area will
be the initial step in a hoped-for agreement on
national boundaries.
Laotian Prime Minister Sisovath Keobounphanh pledged
during a visit to Cambodia this week to resolve the
border dispute once and for all, by the end of 2001.
The promise was made in a three-hour meeting with
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, who also agreed to
end the disagreement as soon as possible. The
resolution was announced Tuesday morning.
The two sides say they may be close to a deal and
could have the entire border marked out by year's end.
Cambodia has boundary disputes with all three of its
immediate neighbors and is in separate negotiations
with Thailand and Vietnam. [Prime Minister] Hun Sen
has vowed to solve the thornier Vietnam border problem
by the end of 2000.
Laos and Cambodia have never set their official
national boundary and have bickered on and off for
years over the border. The arguments were mostly
moot, because much of the territory was held by Khmer
Rouge rebels for decades.
Now, with the Khmer Rouge surrender and both countries
members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations,
Cambodia and Laos seem eager to quickly put past
conflicts behind. (Signed)
NEB/KJ/FC/JP
25-Apr-2000 06:29 AM EDT (25-Apr-2000 1029 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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