by Nguon Sovan
PHNOM PENH, Dec. 21 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian and Thai defense ministers on Wednesday agreed to comply with the Order of International Court of Justice (ICJ) in regard to the withdrawals of the two countries' troops from the newly defined demilitarized zone near the 11th century Preah Vihear temple.
Both sides also agreed to set up a Joint Working Group to work together towards the complete troop pullout from the provisional demilitarized zone (PDZ).
The announcement was made after the 8th meeting of Cambodia- Thailand General Border Committee (GBC), which was co-chaired by Cambodia's Deputy Prime Minister Gen. Tea Banh, minister of defense, and visiting Thai Defense Minister Gen. Yuthasak Sasiprapha.
"Both sides agreed to implement the ICJ's Order for provisional measures dated July 18, 2011 in a transparent, equitable, and verifiable manner, and decided to establish a Join Working Group to discuss issues relating to the implementation of the ICJ's Order in the provisional demilitarized zone (PDZ)," said a joint statement read by Tea Banh in a press briefing after the meeting.
The statement said the Joint Working Group will work for the complete and simultaneous redeployment of the two countries' military personnel from their current positions in the PDZ "at the earliest" in a transparent manner under the observations of the Joint Observer Team, comprising the Cambodian, Thai and Indonesian observers.
"The Joint Working Group will comprise representatives designated by each side and convene a meeting at the earliest," it said, adding that Thai side agreed to host its first meeting in Thailand.
Both sides agreed on the cooperation to clear landmines in the PDZ.
The talks on troop pullout from the PDZ was made after, on July 18, 2011, the ICJ ordered Cambodia and Thailand to immediately withdraw their military personnel from the PDZ of about 17 kilometers on the disputed border near Preah Vihear temple and allow ASEAN observers access to the zone to monitor ceasefire.
"This is the best and positive result towards the troop redeployment from the PDZ," said Tea Banh.
"The meeting was held and concluded in a warm and friendly atmosphere, reflecting the close neighborly relations between the two countries," Yuthasak said in the joint press briefing.
Neither Tea Banh nor Yuthasak can affirm that when both sides' troops will pull back from the PDZ.
During the Wednesday's meeting, the two ministers also expressed their full commitment to enhance mutual trust for promoting peace and stability along the border and vow to settle border issues through peaceful means in a cordial spirit, said the joint statement.
Also, they agreed to support the efforts in boundary-related issues of the Joint Commission on Demarcation for Land Boundary and reaffirmed that these issues should not undermine the good relations and cooperation between the two countries.
In addition, the two sides agreed on cooperation under the framework of the GBC to prevent and crack down on offences along the border and to enhance maritime security.
Cambodia and Thailand have had sporadic border conflict over territorial dispute near Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple since the UNESCO listed the temple as a World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008 and witnessed fierce border fighting in February and April during the Thai's Democrat-led administration.
However, the military tension has eased since the former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's Pheu Thai Party won a landslide victory in the general elections on July 3.
The talks on troop pullout from the PDZ was made after, on July 18, 2011, the ICJ ordered Cambodia and Thailand to immediately withdraw their military personnel from the PDZ of about 17 kilometers on the disputed border near Preah Vihear temple and allow ASEAN observers access to the zone to monitor ceasefire.
"This is the best and positive result towards the troop redeployment from the PDZ," said Tea Banh.
"The meeting was held and concluded in a warm and friendly atmosphere, reflecting the close neighborly relations between the two countries," Yuthasak said in the joint press briefing.
Neither Tea Banh nor Yuthasak can affirm that when both sides' troops will pull back from the PDZ.
During the Wednesday's meeting, the two ministers also expressed their full commitment to enhance mutual trust for promoting peace and stability along the border and vow to settle border issues through peaceful means in a cordial spirit, said the joint statement.
Also, they agreed to support the efforts in boundary-related issues of the Joint Commission on Demarcation for Land Boundary and reaffirmed that these issues should not undermine the good relations and cooperation between the two countries.
In addition, the two sides agreed on cooperation under the framework of the GBC to prevent and crack down on offences along the border and to enhance maritime security.
Cambodia and Thailand have had sporadic border conflict over territorial dispute near Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple since the UNESCO listed the temple as a World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008 and witnessed fierce border fighting in February and April during the Thai's Democrat-led administration.
However, the military tension has eased since the former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's Pheu Thai Party won a landslide victory in the general elections on July 3.
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