(24 Aug 2010) SHOTLIST
1. Thai ambassador Prasas Prasasvinitchai walks out of the International Arrivals area at Phnom Penh airport
2. Various of Prasas Prasasvinitchai walking to and getting in car
3. Mid of Prasas Prasasvinitchai in car as it drives off
4. Wide of Thai embassy
5. Mid of sign at embassy reading: (English) Royal Thai Embassy
6. Close up of flag
STORYLINE:
Thailand and Cambodia said on Tuesday that they are sending their ambassadors back to each other's country in hopes of easing a nine-month diplomatic spat between the neighbours.
The step to normalising ties came after Thailand's divisive former leader Thaksin Shinawatra quit his job as an adviser to the Cambodian government on Monday, citing time constraints. Thaksin's acceptance of the post in November had fuelled a diplomatic brouhaha.
Thai Ambassador to Cambodia Prasas Prasasvinitcha arrived in Phnom Penh on Tuesday evening but did not speak to reporters. Cambodia's envoy will return to Bangkok on Wednesday, the foreign ministry spokesman said.
Bangkok was angered by Thaksin's Cambodia appointment because the deposed leader is a fugitive from justice.
In 2008, a Thai court sentenced him in absentia to two years in prison for violating a conflict of interest law, but he fled into exile before the verdict.
He was ousted by a 2006 military coup after being accused of corruption and abuse of power.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said Thaksin had been unfairly convicted for political reasons.
Thaksin supporters staged prolonged street protests in the Thai capital earlier this year, with related violence killing about 90 people with more than 1,400 wounded.
Both governments welcomed the resumption of ties.
Cambodia's relations with Thailand have been contentious for years, with the focus most recently on a border dispute.
Relations worsened since Abhisit, a political antagonist of Thaksin, became Thailand's prime minister in December 2008.
In recent years, the neighbours have had a series of small but sometimes deadly skirmishes over the demarcation of their border near the 11th century Preah Vihear temple.
Thaksin is living in self-imposed exile and is believed to spend most of his time in Dubai.
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