New York:The Thai ambassador at the United Nations has criticized Cambodia's continued accusations against Thailand, stressing that achieving lasting peace requires a shared commitment.

According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Cherdchai Chaiwivith, Thailand's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations, responded to a statement made by the Cambodian delegation at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. He addressed remarks by Mr. Prak Sokhonn, Cambodia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, which contained allegations against Thailand.

Mr. Cherdchai expressed regret that despite a ceasefire agreement being in place for over nine months, Cambodia persists in spreading unsubstantiated accusations. He argued that these actions contradict the agreements made between the Thai and Cambodian Prime Ministers at the ASEAN Summit in Cebu and aim to tarnish Thailand's image.

The ambassador highlighted that the conflict's origins involve Cambodia's release of private communications between the nations' leaders, landmine incidents, and rocket attacks into Thai territory, resulting in civilian casualties. He noted that the conflict displaced hundreds of thousands of Thais, who were provided with government assistance.

Mr. Cherdchai clarified that the "internally displaced persons" Cambodia refers to are actually Cambodians residing in Thailand since the 1970s. He stated that their refusal to return to Cambodia constitutes territorial encroachment.

Thailand remains committed to diplomacy and the ceasefire agreement, aiming to resolve maritime boundary differences through bilateral negotiations. However, Cambodia has opted for a mandatory dispute resolution process. Despite this, Thailand intends to participate constructively, hoping to build trust.

The Thai Prime Minister emphasized that the border should be a zone of prosperity rather than conflict. Thailand seeks sincerity from Cambodia, including goodwill on the international stage, refraining from provocative actions, and cooperating on border security, humanitarian mine clearance, and combating crime.

The ambassador concluded that while Thailand and Cambodia cannot change their geographical proximity, they can choose to be cooperative neighbors, working towards mutual trust and lasting peace.