GOVERNMENT officials expressed renewed

hope for a resolution of border disputes with Thailand following an

announcement Thursday by the newly elected Thai prime minister that the

two sides would resume negotiations.

"We welcome this good news, and it signals a potential end to the

conflict," said Phay Siphan, spokesman for Cambodia's Council of

Ministers. "It is good that Thailand is ready to talk."

Somchai Wongsawat, who was named Thai prime minister earlier this

week, said he looked forward to more peaceful relations between the two

countries.

"I'm ready to talk with Prime Minister Hun Sen," he told reporters at Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Somchai

added he expected Thai and Cambodian delegates to meet on the sidelines

of the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York next week.

"If the Thai government really intends to negotiate ... we will try

our best to solve our problems," said Nuth Sa An, secretary of state at

the Ministry of Interior. "But I am concerned because they are  always

under pressure by the opposition party," he said.

Koy Koung, undersecretary of state for Cambodia's Ministry of

Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, said he was not aware of

any arrangements for negotiations to continue.