Thailand has agreed to hold a meeting of the General Border Committee (GBC) at the request of Cambodia later this month, Thai Defence Minister Yutthasak Sasiprapa said on August 11.
The Thai newspaper The Nation reported that Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Banh sent an invitation to his Thai counterpart Yutthasak to pay an official visit to Cambodia and later called Yutthasak to request for the resumption of a GBC meeting to resolve border dispute.
Thai Defence Minister Yutthasak said bilateral relations are expected to be improved following the planned meeting, paving the way for newly-elected Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s visit to Cambodia.
Meanwhile, Cambodian PM Hun Sen said the GBC meeting can be held bilaterally, except the talks on the provisional demilitarized zone of about 17 kilometers surrounding the 11th century Preah Vihear temple.
"The GBC meeting will be held between Cambodian and Thai defence ministers without the presence of Indonesia after the visit of the new Thai defense minister to Cambodia," he said during a graduation ceremony of students at the Human Resources University.
"But when saying about the 17 kilometers of the provisional demilitarised area defined by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), it's necessary to have the presence of Indonesia," he said.
"And when Cambodia and Thailand agree to withdraw troops from the area of 17 kilometers, there must be the presence of Indonesia too," PM Hun Sen added.
The Cambodian leader also confirmed that Cambodia will no longer raise the border dispute with Thailand in ASEAN meetings.
"The dispute will not be the burden and the concern of ASEAN anymore," said the Cambodian PM, stressing that "From now on, the Cambodian and Thai border issues are probably no longer negotiated in the ASEAN meetings because the order of the International Court of Justice on July 18 has made a clear indication on both sides' troop withdrawals from the newly defined demilitarized zone of 17 kilometers surrounding Preah Vihear temple.”/.
The Thai newspaper The Nation reported that Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Banh sent an invitation to his Thai counterpart Yutthasak to pay an official visit to Cambodia and later called Yutthasak to request for the resumption of a GBC meeting to resolve border dispute.
Thai Defence Minister Yutthasak said bilateral relations are expected to be improved following the planned meeting, paving the way for newly-elected Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s visit to Cambodia.
Meanwhile, Cambodian PM Hun Sen said the GBC meeting can be held bilaterally, except the talks on the provisional demilitarized zone of about 17 kilometers surrounding the 11th century Preah Vihear temple.
"The GBC meeting will be held between Cambodian and Thai defence ministers without the presence of Indonesia after the visit of the new Thai defense minister to Cambodia," he said during a graduation ceremony of students at the Human Resources University.
"But when saying about the 17 kilometers of the provisional demilitarised area defined by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), it's necessary to have the presence of Indonesia," he said.
"And when Cambodia and Thailand agree to withdraw troops from the area of 17 kilometers, there must be the presence of Indonesia too," PM Hun Sen added.
The Cambodian leader also confirmed that Cambodia will no longer raise the border dispute with Thailand in ASEAN meetings.
"The dispute will not be the burden and the concern of ASEAN anymore," said the Cambodian PM, stressing that "From now on, the Cambodian and Thai border issues are probably no longer negotiated in the ASEAN meetings because the order of the International Court of Justice on July 18 has made a clear indication on both sides' troop withdrawals from the newly defined demilitarized zone of 17 kilometers surrounding Preah Vihear temple.”/.
