Thailand and Cambodia will hold a meeting ahead of the International Court of Justice’s ruling on the Prear Vihear territorial dispute.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul has been scheduled to meet with his Cambodian counterpart on October 28 in a bid to make preparations for the much-awaited ruling.
The agenda for the meeting will include discussion on security measures around the border areas and cooperative plans to enhance trade and connectivity between Thailand and Cambodia, including establishment of new border checkpoints to facilitate cross-border commerce.
Prime Minister and Defence Minister Yingluck Shinawatra earlier proposed that the Thai-Cambodian Joint Commission hold a meeting to work out bilateral cooperation before the ICJ rules on November 11.
Thai authorities have repeatedly expressed confidence in peace between Thailand and neighbouring Cambodia after the final ruling. Army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha said military forces along the border have been instructed to intensify security and create understanding among the people.
He affirmed that Thailand and Cambodia have been on good terms due to successive discussions among officials of the two countries at every level, expressing hope that the Thai people would accept and abide by the ICJ’s judgment.
On October 31, the army chief is slated to visit Si Sa Ket in the wake of the imminent ruling to boost morale of security personnel and local communities who had been affected by border skirmishes in the past.
Thailand is set to form a working group, comprising legal experts and representatives of the military and government agencies, within October to study and analyze the ICJ’s ruling.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will publicize information on the case and will televise the broadcast the ICJ’s ruling live on November 11 in both English and Thai through Modernine TV and the National Broadcasting Television from 4 pm local time until the ruling ends.
Cambodia petitioned the ICJ for a ruling on the ownership of the area around the Hindu temple. The ICJ ruled in 1962 that the temple itself belonged to Cambodia but there was no mention of the surrounding area.
