Cambodian and Thai defence ministers have agreed to solve the border
dispute through the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and the
decisions of the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
According to the Cambodian Herald network, during their hour-long
meeting at Preah Vihear Temple on February 26, Cambodian Defence
Minister Tea Banh and his Thai counterpart Sukumopl Suwanatat agreed to
allow the two countries’ joint committee to clear mines and conduct
surveys along the disputed area near the ancient temple.
The Thai side agreed to inform Cambodia of the time when it will
withdraw its troops from the demilitarised zone at Preah Vihear.
It also requested Cambodia to take measures to prevent their
residents from illegally logging in Thailand as well as to preserve
border markers No. 43 and 46 in Banteay Meanchey province.
The meeting took place ahead of the ICJ’s hearing over the disputed border around the temple in April.
The two neighbours have had sporadic border conflicts over territorial
dispute near the temple since the UNESCO listed the temple as a World
Heritage Site on July 7, 2008.-VNA