Czech Ambassador hopes the Cambodia-Thailand border dispute will be resolved peacefully soon

The Czech Ambassador to Cambodia, Ms Markéta Kolc Hájková, has expressed strong sympathy with the Cambodian people affected by the ongoing Cambodia-Thailand border conflict and voiced confidence that the dispute will be resolved peacefully through dialogue in the near future.

The remarks were made during a courtesy call and working meeting with National Assembly President Khuon Sudary on Tuesday at the National Assembly Palace in Phnom Penh.

The Czech diplomat noted that the conflict has caused civilian casualties, mass displacement, loss of livelihoods and disruptions to children’s education, stressing that the Czech Republic is closely monitoring the situation.

Sudary welcomed the ambassador and highlighted the long-standing ties between Cambodia and the Czech Republic, noting that His Majesty the King of Cambodia studied in the Czech Republic—an enduring symbol of friendship between the two nations.

Ambassador Hájková reaffirmed her commitment to strengthening bilateral relations during her diplomatic tenure, including parliamentary exchanges, people-to-people ties, trade, investment, and tourism. She also said the Czech Republic plans to mark the 70th anniversary of Cambodia-Czech relations by expanding cooperation and facilitating high-level visits.

The National Assembly President expressed appreciation for Czech support, particularly the conversion of Cambodia’s debt into educational assistance and the provision of scholarships to Cambodian students. Since 1984, around 400 Cambodian students have studied in the Czech Republic.

Addressing the border conflict, Sudary thanked the Czech Republic for seeking to understand the facts on the ground. She stressed that Cambodia has no territorial ambitions and remains firmly committed to peace, noting the country’s painful history with war.

She further condemned recent Thai military actions, saying they involved heavy weapons, including F-16 fighter jets, cluster munitions and toxic agents, which allegedly struck deep inside Cambodian territory. The attacks, she said, resulted in civilian deaths, the displacement of more than 400,000 people, and widespread damage to homes, schools, hospitals, religious sites, infrastructure and heritage areas, including the Preah Vihear Temple.

Sudary called on the international community to urge Thailand to respect peace agreements and immediately halt its aggression, warning that continued violence would further undermine regional and global stability. AKP