Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon would be open to having talks with his Cambodian counterpart Tea Banh after he returns from a visit to China, his secretary Noppadol Inthapanya said on Wednesday.
Gen Noppadol said Gen Prawit left for China on Wednesday morning for a visit at the invitation of the Chinese defence minister issued during his visit to Thailand several months ago.
The China trip had long been planned and could not be postponed, he said.
Media reports this morning quoting the army spokesman saying today's planned meeting had been cancelled were wrong, according to Gen Nappadol.
"In fact, Gen Prawit did not have an appointment to meet Gen Tea Banh on Wednesday, May 27. He was already scheduled to leave for China that day.
"In fact, Gen Prawit did not have an appointment to meet Gen Tea Banh on Wednesday, May 27. He was already scheduled to leave for China that day.
"However, Gen Prawit said that on his return from China on Saturday he would seek a meeting with Gen Tea Banh provided that the situation has returned to normal," Gen Noppadol said.
If there is a serious problem in Thailand during his China visit Gen Prawit would immediately fly home.
If there is a serious problem in Thailand during his China visit Gen Prawit would immediately fly home.
"He will closely monitor the situation," he added.
Gen Noppadol said that by holding truce talks with Gen Tea Banh Gen Prawit would not be admitting defeat, because neither side in the border conflict has been declared a winner or loser, and the military forces of the two countries are still holding their positions.
The defence minister was firm about solving the problem through bilateral mechanisms and that a General Border Committee meeting should be attended only by the two countries, he said.
"However, after the House is dissolved and the government becomes a caretaker Gen Prawit may not attend the GBC himself but may assign Gen Kittipong Ketkowit, the defence permanent secretary, to go instead," Gen Noppadol said.
Gen Prawit on Wednesday morning left for China amid reports that Thailand had pulled out of planned ceasefire talks with Cambodia.
Hopes of a truce had grown after the two countries announced a day earlier that their defence ministers would meet for discussions aimed at ending the ongoing clashes on their disputed border.
Army spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd was quoted as saying said Gen Prawit would not travel to Cambodia for talks with his counterpart Tea Banh after all.
"We decided last night to cancel Gen Prawit's trip to Phnom Penh today after some Cambodia media reported Thailand agreed to ceasefire talks after it admitted defeat and losses," Col Sansern said.
Gen Noppadol said that by holding truce talks with Gen Tea Banh Gen Prawit would not be admitting defeat, because neither side in the border conflict has been declared a winner or loser, and the military forces of the two countries are still holding their positions.
The defence minister was firm about solving the problem through bilateral mechanisms and that a General Border Committee meeting should be attended only by the two countries, he said.
"However, after the House is dissolved and the government becomes a caretaker Gen Prawit may not attend the GBC himself but may assign Gen Kittipong Ketkowit, the defence permanent secretary, to go instead," Gen Noppadol said.
Gen Prawit on Wednesday morning left for China amid reports that Thailand had pulled out of planned ceasefire talks with Cambodia.
Hopes of a truce had grown after the two countries announced a day earlier that their defence ministers would meet for discussions aimed at ending the ongoing clashes on their disputed border.
Army spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd was quoted as saying said Gen Prawit would not travel to Cambodia for talks with his counterpart Tea Banh after all.
"We decided last night to cancel Gen Prawit's trip to Phnom Penh today after some Cambodia media reported Thailand agreed to ceasefire talks after it admitted defeat and losses," Col Sansern said.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said today a date for ceasefire talks will be set after Gen Prawit returns from China.
Mr Abhisit today travelled by an army plane to Surin province to visit soldiers injured in the border fighting at the provincial hospital, and to meet displaced civilians at an evacuation centre.
Meanwhile, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen called for a truce with Thailand as the border clashes that have left 14 people dead on both sides entered their sixth day.
"Cambodia is appealing for a ceasefire," Hun Sen said in a speech in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh, adding that he was ready to hold talks with his Thai counterpart at a regional summit in Jakarta in early May.
Field reports said one villager was killed and two others wounded in a cross-border clash between Thai and Cambodian forces in Surin's Phanom Dong Rak and Kap Choeng districts on Tuesday night.
The casualties were inflicted by Cambodian gunfire during the clash which started yesterday afternoon and continued until about 10.30pm.
The Public Health Ministry said the continuing fighting between Thai and Cambodian troops has so far resulted in 94 Thais being wounded and six killed, five Thai soldiers and one civilian.
Mr Abhisit today travelled by an army plane to Surin province to visit soldiers injured in the border fighting at the provincial hospital, and to meet displaced civilians at an evacuation centre.
Meanwhile, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen called for a truce with Thailand as the border clashes that have left 14 people dead on both sides entered their sixth day.
"Cambodia is appealing for a ceasefire," Hun Sen said in a speech in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh, adding that he was ready to hold talks with his Thai counterpart at a regional summit in Jakarta in early May.
Field reports said one villager was killed and two others wounded in a cross-border clash between Thai and Cambodian forces in Surin's Phanom Dong Rak and Kap Choeng districts on Tuesday night.
The casualties were inflicted by Cambodian gunfire during the clash which started yesterday afternoon and continued until about 10.30pm.
The Public Health Ministry said the continuing fighting between Thai and Cambodian troops has so far resulted in 94 Thais being wounded and six killed, five Thai soldiers and one civilian.
The ministry said the border violence havd forced nine state hospitals in Buri Ram and Surin to suspend all but emergency services.
Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department director-general Wibul Sanguanpong said a total of 142 villages in Phanom Dong Rak, Kap Choeng and Prasart districts of Surin have been declared emergency disaster zones caused by outside forces.
Altogether 29,677 people living along Thai side of the border with Cambodia were relocated to 22 evacuation centres in four districts of Surin, Mr Wibul said.
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