BBC-Thailand wants delay in Cambodi

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Subject: BBC-Thailand wants delay in Cambodian memebrship of ASEAN 

Tuesday, December 8, 1998 Published at 14:57 GMT

World: Asia-Pacific

Thailand wants delay in Cambodian memebrship of ASEAN

The Thai Foreign Ministry says members of the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations, ASEAN, are still debating whether Cambodia should be admitted into
the regional grouping during next week's summit in Hanoi.

The Foreign Ministry spokesman told the BBC ASEAN members were all in favour
of Cambodia's eventual membership.

But he said some, including Thailand, believed it should be delayed until
the political situation in Cambodia had settled down, for the sake of
preserving ASEAN unity.

Yesterday, the United Nations allowed Cambodia to take up its UN seat again
after a fifteen-month absence, following the installation of the new
coalition government.

>From the newsroom of the BBC World Service