BANGKOK, 25 October 2013 Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul will meet with his Cambodian counterpart Hor Namhong early next week to discuss ways to improve the confidence of people along their common border.
According to Department of Information director-general and Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) spokesperson Mr. Sek Wannamethee, the discussion will take place in Poipet, Cambodia, at 9.30 am on 28 October, followed by a press conference at the Aran Mermaid Hotel, in Sa Kaeo province, Thailand, at 11.30 am on the same day.
The meeting is to raise the confidence of people living along the Thai-Cambodian border about the good relationship between the two countries. The spokesman reaffirmed that there will be no discussion on the International Court of Justice (ICJ)’s ruling on the Phra Viharn case as the verdict is not yet happening. He said both countries already have a mechanism known as joint committees to handle the issue after the ruling.
The Foreign Ministry’s spokesman said the Prime Ministers of both countries didn’t want the ICJ’s ruling to damage bilateral relationship. Cambodia will host the discussion on 28 October. It signifies the fact that both countries still have a friendly relationship. Therefore, no matter how the ruling turns out to be, the relationship between Thailand and Cambodia will remain the same, said the MFA spokesperson.
