US Lauds Malaysia Leadership In Thailand-Cambodia Ceasefire Talks - Envoy

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 7 (Bernama) -- Malaysia’s leadership as ASEAN Chair in facilitating peace efforts between Thailand and Cambodia has been lauded by the United States (US), following an Extraordinary General Border Committee (GBC) meeting held here on Thursday.

US Ambassador to Malaysia Edgard D. Kagan said the leadership shown by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, as well as the Chief of Defence Forces of Malaysia General Tan Sri Mohd Nizam Jaffar and the Malaysian Armed Forces, was instrumental in bringing the parties together.

“What we’ve seen today is an important step, and that is that the senior representatives from both sides have met and have recommitted to the ceasefire agreement.

“Malaysia has shown exemplary leadership as ASEAN Chair in bringing both Thailand and Cambodia to the table,” he told reporters after the meeting at the Defence Ministry.

The meeting brought together senior defence officials from both countries to reaffirm the ceasefire agreement reached in Putrajaya on July 28.

Kagan who attended the meeting as an observer added that the US strongly supports Malaysia’s role in ASEAN and is working closely with the country to develop long-term mechanisms to ensure the ceasefire holds.

He noted that US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio had also been actively engaged in efforts to support the ceasefire and broader regional stability.

“President Trump has engaged very actively on this, and this is a very high priority for him. He believes that any kind of warfare, any kind of conflict, anywhere, including in Southeast Asia, is counterproductive to everyone’s interests,” he said.

While welcoming the development, Kagan stressed that this was just the beginning, and more must be done to ensure a sustainable and enforceable ceasefire.

He said the US would continue to monitor developments closely and support ASEAN-led efforts to preserve peace in the region.

The meeting was co-chaired by Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister and National Defence Minister General Tea Seiha, and Thailand’s Acting Minister of Defence General Nattaphon Narkphanit.

Also present during the meeting as observers were Malaysia’s Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, Deputy Defence Minister Adly Zahari, and China's Ambassador to Malaysia Ouyang Yujing.

-- BERNAMA