Cambodia-Thailand Improve in Border Talks

By Soy Sophea

Cambodian and Thai delegates have given a more positive assessment following talks to defuse tensions over the disputed border. The two countries have just finished three days of talks, with November 10-11set aside for Joint Border Committee business and the 12th set aside for foreign ministerial meetings. This upbeat assessment was delivered to a joint press conference following the ministerial border negotiations that took place in Siem Reap province.

Hor Namhong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, told reporters after the latest meeting on November 12, that Cambodia and Thailand have reached a joint agreement in principle and both sides have pledged to withdraw their troops from the Keo Sikha Kiri Svara pagoda area.

The Deputy Prime Minister has described the talks as a "big practical step forward", and expressed his pleasure in understanding that the border issue could still raise the passions of the Cambodian populace. His Thai counterpart Sompong Amornwiwat said they had achieved approximately "96 percent" of what they had set out to achieve.

The Deputy Prime Minister continued “I am proud of our people as their spirit and the love they have shown to our country is without compare. Border resolutions such as these cannot be resolved overnight, nor can we expect to have everything entirely our own way. To illustrate the point, consider the historical border issues that still continue between Russia and China for example, or India and China, Vietnam and China, or Japan and Korea; these disputes have lasted for decades and are still not completely resolved.”

Furthermore, he informed reporters that after the latest meeting, “The Royal Government of Cambodia has its road map and will not start the process of resolution without first hammering out an appropriate strategy. We will also consider the continuation of good relations with our neighbors, as well as Cambodia’s territorial sovereignty.”

The first step has been taken, with Cambodia and Thailand pledging to begin to place markers along their common border and withdraw troops from around the disputed temple area. These preparatory moves came after a meeting of foreign ministers aimed at preventing further clashes after both sides exchanged gunfire last month.The Deputy Prime Minister affirmed that obstacles remain in the way of a final amicable solution in settling the land dispute, a view upheld by his counterpart Sompong.

The two sides will begin marking out the border, which runs for nearly 800km, much of it heavily mined, and the two nations have also agreed to make the stretch upon which the temple stands their first priority, according to the Deputy Prime Minister. The two sides say they mark out sections of the contested area around the 11th Century Preah Vihear temple - the scene of last month's deadly clashes. These will reduce the risk of one side blundering into the territory of the other.

Var Kimhong, Chairman of the National Committee for the Resolution of Border Disputes in the Council of Ministers, who also attended the meeting, said that both sides have for the time being agreed to use all documents created by the Joint Border Committee (JBC) in 2006. These documents identify the 29 border markers or pillars that divide the two countries.

He added that time and research would be spent in getting a more precise fix on the marker locations; however, this could be difficult as time and years of civil war have conspired to hide these markers from view.

What is without doubt is the fact that the Thai delegates have accepted internationally recognized map, created between 1904 and 1907, according to Thai Foreign Minister Sompong Amornwiwat.
However, the Thai Foreign Minister says the accord is still subject to ratification by his country's Parliament. He said that the two sides will conduct another round of negotiations in January.