BANGKOK, April 10 – Thai and Cambodian officials met Tuesday to discuss the logging and trade in Siamese rosewood along the two countries’ borders.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Information Department Director-General Thani Thongpakdee told a news conference here of an over three-hour meeting between representatives of both countries, during which he said Cambodia had expressed concerns on the issue.
Cambodia’s Secretary of State of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Long Visalo spoke with Thailand’s Vice Foreign Minister Jullapong Nonsrichai.
According to Mr Thani, both sides agreed to find a solution to end the illegal logging. Closer collaboration between the two nations is desired.
Thailand has related agencies to deal with the issue, including the Border Affairs and the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Departments. Thailand will meet with Cambodia again to determine which of its agencies will be responsible for the matter.
Two Cambodian loggers were extrajudicially killed in February by a Thailand’s Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation patrol.
In Thailand’s northeast, Siamese rosewood is popular and has been smuggled incessantly for sale as a rare wood for exotic furniture manufacture.
