VOA标准英语2008年-Cambodian-Thai Border Talks Fail to Reach Solut

Top-level talks between Thailand and Cambodia have failed to resolve a dispute over who owns an ancient temple. The talks were called after Thai soldiers entered Cambodia and troops from both countries gathered along the disputed border. Liam Cochrane reports from Preah Viheah temple on the Cambodian-Thai border.

The Defense¹ Ministers of Cambodian and Thailand met Monday at a border town away from the disputed temple site.

They spoke² for eight hours, but the discussion ended without a solution to the dispute or a schedule for further talks.

The Director General of the National Authority for Preah Viheah, Professor Hang Soth says the two sides had different ideas on how to resolve the standoff, but said the Cambodian government was committed to finding a non-violent solution.

"No matter how long it takes, Cambodian government still calm, still use any new way to find peace, never want to make the conflict and no want to have fighting with each other," he said.
　
Cambodian soldiers stand guard at Preah Vihear temple near Thai border in Preah Vihear province, 17 Jul 2008

At Preah Viheah temple, Cambodian and Thai soldiers chatted and posed for photographs together in an atmosphere that was mostly friendly.

But both sides have hundreds of well-armed troops and heavy machine guns in place in case fighting does break out.

Thailand sent troops to the border after anti-government demonstrators attacked Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej's government for supporting Cambodia's request to designate the temple a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The Thai protesters say the temple's new status will undermine their country's claim to land around the site.

　

 

1 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

2 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。