Cambodia, Thailand agree on border observer plan

Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa says both sides have agreed in principle to accept 15 Indonesian observers on each side of the border if there is a "conducive situation."

Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, right, greets his Cambodian counterpart Hor Namhong prior to their bilateral meeting at the sideline of the 18th ASEAN Summit in Jakarta, on Friday. Photo: AP.

Cambodia and Thailand moved closer to bringing in Indonesian observers to monitor a shaky cease—fire in the Southeast Asian countries’ border clashes but Thai demands could delay any deal.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa says both sides have agreed in principle to accept 15 Indonesian observers on each side of the border if there is a “conducive situation.”

He says actually sending the monitors is being delayed by a Thai demand that Cambodia first withdraw troops from the territory where heated battles have killed nearly 20 people over two weeks.

Mr. Natalegawa met separately on Friday with his Cambodian and Thai counterparts. Indonesia is the current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which is meeting this weekend in Jakarta.