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The prime ministers of Cambodia and Thailand exchanged heated words over their border conflict at the ASEAN summit and Burma received an endorsement in principle to head the organization in 2014, despite its poor human-rights record.    Since February, nearly 30 people have been killed and thousands displaced in both Thailand and Cambodia because of ongoing military clashes between the two countries over a border area near a historic temple.

Ahead of a regional summit, Indonesia’s foreign minister has said Thailand and Cambodia agreed to allow Indonesian monitors to go to the border between the two countries to help prevent further military clashes. In his role as the chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa on Friday said there has been a breakthrough in ASEAN’s efforts to mediate an end to the Thai-Cambodia border conflict

With Thai and Cambodian foreign ministers meeting in Jakarta on Tuesday, Cambodian analysts say the best way to resolve an ongoing border dispute is to call on the International Court of Justice to clarify a decision it made in 1962.

Analysts and political observers gave mixed reactions to Cambodia’s address to the UN Security Council on Monday, with some disappointed the international body had not done enough and others saying it gave proper attention to border fighting with Thailand this month. The foreign ministers of Cambodia and Thailand each appeared before the Security Council in New York on Monday, in an effort to resolve a longstanding border dispute that culminated in violent clashes in early February

Cambodia will seek Asean monitors near Preah Vihear temple and in subsequent border talks, when regional foreign ministers meet in Jakarta next week, a senior official said. Returning from an address to the UN Security Council this week, Foreign Minister Hor Namhong told reporters Wednesday he will ask Asean to send monitors to ensure no more clashes occur between Cambodia and Thailand on the border.

Officials say Cambodia will respect a statement issued by the UN Security Council on the border issue late Monday, after the foreign minister addressed the body in New York on Monday. Following a session in New York, the UN Security Council issued a statement calling for a peaceful resolution and encouraging the regional forum of Asean as a mediator

Tourism T HE government will establish a National Tourism Expert Committee in order to boost the quality of the tourism industry, a government official told The Post yesterday.