Cambodian and Thai defence officials will meet in Thailand on May
16-17 to discuss measures to intensify peace, stability and cooperation
along the shared border during the 9th Cambodia-Thailand General
Border Committee (GBC) meeting.
Neang Phat, the Secretary of
state of Cambodian Defence Ministry, told reporters in Phnom Penh on
May 1 before he left for Bangkok to attend a preparatory meeting
with Thai defence officials that the meeting will be co-chaired by the
two countries’ defense ministers.
The 9th GBC meeting will
focus discussions on bilateral cooperation to strengthen security along
the border through jointly fighting cross-border crimes, drug smuggling
and other illegal activities, with an effort to build a border of
peace, stability, cooperation and development, he said.
Participants will debate on measures to avoid military confrontations
that may affect the development of the two countries and people’s
livelihoods, he said, adding that they will also discuss ways to clear
landmines in the area around the Preah Vihear Temple.
Cambodia
and Thailand have had sporadic border conflicts over territorial
dispute near the Preah Vihear Temple since the UNESCO listed the
temple as a World Heritage Site in July 2008. It has led to many
clashes between the two armies, claiming tens of lives.
In April 2011, Cambodia asked the International Court of Justice (ICJ)
to clarify its decision issued in 1962, which stated that Preah
Vihear Temple belongs to Cambodia but did not determine the
ownership of the surrounding area.
Last month, the two
countries delivered their week-long oral statements on the dispute to
the ICJ in the Netherlands. The court is expected to issue a final
decision on who owns the disputed land around the temple later this year
and both sides have committed to comply with the ICJ’s decision.-VNA