Bangkok (VNA) - Thai Minister of Defence General Natthaphon Narkphanit and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence General Tea Seiha on December 27 signed a ceasefire agreement, aimed at restoring stability, allowing civilians living around the border area to return home, and preventing further escalation of conflict.
Discussions to finalise the ceasefire agreement were approved in principle by the secretariats of the two countries’ General Border Committees (GBC) after three days of technical negotiations involving military officials.
General Natthaphon, who is also Chairman of Thailand’s GBC, said that after the agreement was signed, the situation will be monitored for 72 hours, with both sides conducting detailed discussions afterward as needed.
He added that the Thai armed forces have been tasked with, and are capable of, maintaining control over 99% of the conflict zone.
Earlier, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul also mentioned that Thailand would agree to a 72-hour ceasefire but would not accept Cambodia’s proposal to resume border negotiations at positions held before the most recent round of clashes./.