Cambodia will withdraw a proposal to have a border dispute with Thailand put on the Asean agenda at a summit this month, a government spokesman said Thursday.

Bangkok has clarified remarks reported in the media claiming the Thai government would like to see a neutral arbitrator in the longstanding border dispute near Preah Vihear temple, said Koy Koung, a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya sent a letter to his Cambodian counterpart to correct misrepresentations of statements in the media.

“I was essentially informing the press about progress made in developing the dispute settlement mechanism under the Asian chatter undertaken by the high level expert,” Kasit said in the letter.

His reported remarks had in fact referred to agreements reached between the prime ministers of both countries, that the issue of the land near Preah Vihear temple be addressed bilaterally, Kasit wrote.

Having received the letter, Cambodia would not raise the issue at the Asean summit in Thailand that begins Oct. 23, Koy Kuong said.