Acting Prime Minister receives Briefing about Thai-Cambodian Border Issues

On 18 September 2008, Mr. Somchai Wongsawat, Deputy Prime Minister and Acting Prime Minister, and Mr. Surapong Suebwonglee, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, who is currently also the Acting Foreign Minister, visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to receive a briefing on Thai and Cambodian relations.
After the briefing, Acting Prime Minister Somchai and Mr. Virasakdi Futrakul, Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, gave a press interview. Gist as follows:

1. The Acting Prime Minister stated that the Foreign Minister had negotiated with Cambodia to resolve outstanding border problems between the two countries in the spirit of goodwill so as to strengthen bilateral relations even further. Though the absence of a new foreign minister at the moment may have offered minimally the negotiation process, the Acting Prime Minister stood ready to continue the process. He reiterated Thailand’s readiness to use existing bilateral mechanisms to achieve a peaceful settlement of outstanding problems. He himself was prepared to discuss this matter with his Cambodian counterpart.

2. During the meeting between The Thai and Cambodian Foreign Ministers at the Informal ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (IAMM) on the sideline of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York later this month, Thailand will reiterate the need to resolve the border problem through bilateral means.

3. On his part, Permanent Secretary Virasakdi said that:
    3.1 Despite the current political transitional period, Thailand stood ready to resolve outstanding border issues with Cambodia through the existing Thai - Cambodian Joint Commission on Demarcation for Land Boundary (JBC) and would adhere to the outcome of the previous Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Cha-Am (18-19 August 2008). The new Thai Foreign Minister would decide the timeframe of the next meeting.
    3.2 On 29 December 2008, the Thai and Cambodian Foreign Ministers would  meet again during the IAMM during the upcoming UNGA where both sides would brief other  ASEAN Foreign Ministers on the latest outcomes of their meeting in Siem Reap and Cha-Am.
     3.3 After assuming office, the new Thai Foreign Minister will appoint the Thai Chairman of the JBC. After that, both sides will coordinate details about the next JBC meeting.
     3.4 Regarding press reports that Cambodia had requested the United States to help mediate with Thailand, Thailand viewed that it was not necessary to bring in a  third party to help. This was also in line with the U.S.’s view, as the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State had informed the Cambodian Prime Minister during their recent meeting.
     3.5 As for the issue of the Temple of Ta Kwai, the Royal Thai Survey Department and the Department of Border Affairs  informed the meeting that the armed forces of both sides had already been in consultation and the situation in the area had returned  to normal. The Cambodian forces had been redeployed approximately 400 meters from the Temple. 
     3.6 Regarding the JBC, it already has a work schedule. In urgent cases though, the Foreign Minister could instruct the JBC to address certain  border disputes. The boundary issue is a technical issue that should not be politicized.  

                                                                                            September 19, 2008

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