Golf diplomacy to ease Thai-Camobdia border disputeCambodia's defence minister teed off with Thai military officials Thursday in a spot of golf diplomacy ahead of talks aimed at resolving a fierce border dispute.A meeting of mid-level officials in Cambodia's northwest tourist hub Siem Reap  Siem Reap City is the capital of Siem Reap Province, Cambodia. was meant to pave the way for substantive talks on Friday between senior commanders on tensions that erupted into deadly clashes last week.
While their juniors met, Cambodian defence minister Tea Banh arrived a day early for a round of golf with Thai military men. "The discussion today has resolved a lot of problems," Tea Banh told AFP (1) (AppleTalk Filing Protocol) The file sharing protocol used in an AppleTalk network. In order for non-Apple networks to access data in an AppleShare server, their protocols must translate into the AFP language. See file sharing protocol. on his way to the links. "The meeting (Friday) will clearly ease the situation more because we will discuss ways to make it better." The talks are aimed at resolving a simmering territorial dispute A territorial dispute is a disagreement over the possession/control of land between two or more states, or over the possession or control of land by one state after it has conquered it from a former state no longer currently recognized by the occupying power. over land near the ancient Preah Vihear Preah Vihear may refer to:
n. An exchange of gunfire, as between infantry units. a week ago that left one Thai and three Cambodian soldiers dead. General Neang Phat phat adj. phat·ter, phat·test Slang Excellent; first-rate: phat fashion; a phat rapper. [Earlier, sexy (said of a woman), , secretary of state at Cambodia's defence ministry, told reporters earlier Thursday that he thought commanders would reach an agreement to reduce the number of soldiers deployed in disputed territory. "We will also talk about how to avoid military confrontation and to continue re-deploying the troops," he said. Separately, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen Hun Sen (h  n sĕn), 1952–, Cambodian political leader, premier of Cambodia (1985–93, 1998–; second premier, 1993–98). and his Thai opposite number Somchai Wongsawat are scheduled to meet Friday in Beijing on the margins of a summit between leaders of Asian and European nations.
Somchai told reporters Thursday that he wanted peace restored between the neighbours "as soon as possible." "My meeting with Hun Sen is on the basis that we are close neighbouring countries that can never separate," Somchai said. "We will have a good and amicable am·i·ca·ble adj. Characterized by or exhibiting friendliness or goodwill; friendly. [Middle English, from Late Latin am relationship with each other. If there is a problem, we will solve it with peaceful measures... If something needs to be done, we must do it to bring peace and order back as soon as possible." Governors of four Cambodian and four Thai provinces affected by the border dispute also met Thursday in Siem Reap to discuss how to help local interests during the military standoff stand·off n. 1. A tie or draw, as in a contest. 2. A situation in which one force neutralizes or counterbalances the other. 3. A standoff insulator. adj. Standoffish. . "The meeting (of governors) focused on cooperation of all sectors including trade and tourism," Siem Reap governor Sou Phirin told reporters. "We want people on both sides to believe there is no armed conflict." Cambodian and Thai military officials agreed to joint border patrols a day after last week's clashes between soldiers stationed on disputed land near the temple, which belongs to Cambodia. But Cambodian commanders have since backed out, saying such patrols are not possible in disputed areas. Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia flared in July when Preah Vihear was awarded United Nations World Heritage status, rekindling long-running tensions over ownership of land surrounding the temple. 
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