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The Thai ambassador resumed his full duties in Phnom Penh Thursday marking the restoration of full diplomatic relations between Cambodia and Thailand suspended after the Jan. 29 anti-Thai riots in this capital city.
Ambassador Chatchavet Chartsuwan arrived here Thursday morning and Cambodian Ambassador Ung Sean has also returned to Bangkok.
The ambassador exchange followed a meeting between Thai officials and a Cambodian delegation including Deputy Prime Minister Sar Kheng, Defense Minister Tea Banh and National Police Director Hok Lundy, who met with Thai counterparts and agreed upon five points they said would restore relations between the two countries.
Relations between Cambodia and Thailand were damaged by the Jan.29 anti-Thai riots in Phnom Penh, which were sparked by rumors that a Thai actress claimed that Cambodia's world-famous Angkor Wat temples belongs to Thailand. The Thai Embassy here was burned down and some Thai owned businesses were looted and torched.
Later on, the Thai government has called back its ambassador to Phnom Penh and downgraded its relations with Cambodia to the charge d'affaires level.
The two countries on April 11 agreed to resume normal diplomatic ties after the Cambodian government paid 5.92 million US dollars in compensation for damage to the Thai Embassy.
Both sides also agreed to have a joint investigation group composed of the two countries' officials working on Cambodia's compensation for Thai private sector's loss caused in the incident and the punishment of those responsible.
(Xinhua News Agency April 14, 2003)
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