KUALA LUMPUR: United States President Donald Trump said brokering the peace deal between Thailand and Cambodia was “more fun” than playing golf, describing the successful resolution as one of his administration’s proudest achievements.
Speaking at the signing of the peace agreement, known as the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord, Trump said that negotiations began earlier this year after armed clashes broke out along the Thailand-Cambodia border, resulting in numerous deaths and the displacement of thousands of civilians.
“I was actually at Turnberry (golf resort) in Scotland when I did this. It was a beautiful day, but I said this is much more important than playing a round of golf, so we sat there all day long making phone calls.
“You cost me very good entertainment. I could have had a lot of fun.
“But this is much more fun for me than anything else because you are saving people and you are saving countries,” he said.
Trump also said the peace agreement, signed by Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, marked one of several diplomatic successes achieved under his administration.
He said the peace agreement was among eight conflicts his administration had ended in eight months.
“We are averaging one a month. There has never been anything like that in history. Never. There never will be either.
“I cannot think of any president who ever solved a war. They start wars, but they do not solve them.
“So, nothing like this has ever been done in history, and it is an honour to be involved.”
Thailand and Cambodia today signed a landmark peace agreement, paving the way to end months of deadly military clashes.
The agreement, signed by Anutin and Hun Manet, was witnessed by Trump and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who had been working to end the border hostilities between the two countries.
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