Siem Reap, Cambodia - After 12 hours of tense talks, Cambodia and Thailand agreed to withdraw thousands of troops from a disputed area around a northern Cambodian border temple, but no timeline was set, the foreign ministers of both nations said Monday. "It was a successful meeting," Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong told a press conference, saying discussions between the ministers were cordial. "We are not angry, not speaking force, but tryingto solve the problem peacefully.
"We have agreed to establish a task force and report our governments in preparation to recall troops around the temple. When exactly this will happen the two sides did not establish.
"This agreement should be without prejudice against the rights of both sides," he said, but declined to comment on which of the disputed border maps, of which more than one exists over the last century and is at the heart of the conflict, would be accepted.
Thailand earlier said troop withdrawals must be equal and reports said troops buildups continued even during the meeting.
Hor Namhong said more discussions were needed over the borders.
He asked that questions be directed to him only in Khmer during the press conference and newly appointed Thai Foreign Minister Tej Bunnag said little, but did pledge to report on the meeting with the Thai cabinet on his return home, expected Tuesday.
Earlier, a senior Cambodian diplomatic source said neither side had achieved their desired objectives during the meeting.
"Cambodia is not happy. Neither side is happy," the Cambodian diplomat said. "On the Thai side, the new foreign minister has not enough capacity to talk with the veteran Cambodian Foreign Minister."
Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong has held the post for decades. A seasoned diplomat, he is not known for giving ground.
Shortly after the Preah Vihear temple was made a World Heritage Site by UNESCO this month, Thailand moved troops into what it calls a disputed area that Cambodia maintains is its territory.
The 11th-century temple is sacred to Thais and Cambodians but only easily accessible from Thailand and Thailand had objected to the temple's listing despite a 1962 International Court ruling that it was Cambodian. Cambodia closed the border in June after Thai rallies.
Both sides have said they would not back down on the issue, which has voter nationalism running high.
Cambodia held national elections Sunday, returning the current government with an increased majority, but the Thai government of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej remains under pressure.
The Cambodians have said they will stick to diplomatic channels to solve the problem and the next step will be mediation at the United Nations if bilateral talks fail. A total alcohol ban is in force around the temple to ensure calm.
In 2003 an angry mob torched the Thai embassy and some businesses over a false rumour that a Thai actress had claimed another temple, Angkor Wat, was Thai, but Cambodian officials have said they are determined that such a diplomatic disaster will not be repeated.
