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