Cambodian, Thai senior defense officials meet ahead of 8th GBC

PHNOM PENH, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Joint Secretariat meeting of the Cambodia-Thailand General Border Committee  (GBC) kicked off here on Monday to discuss general border cooperation and to set the timeframe for troop withdrawals from the  disputed area near the 11th century Preah Vihear temple.
  The two-day Joint Secretariat meeting was co-chaired by Cambodian four-star general Neang Phat, secretary of state at the  Ministry of Defense, and Lt. Gen. Voravit Darunchoo, director of Thailand’s Border Affairs Department of the Supreme  Commander Headquarters.
  Speaking to reporters after the opening ceremony, Neang Phat said the meeting was a preparatory one for the 8th GBC  meeting, which will be held here on Dec. 21 under the presidency of the two countries’ defense ministers—Gen. Tea Banh of  Cambodia and Gen. Yuthasak Sasiprapa of Thailand.
  He said the Joint Secretariat meeting was to review the progress reports on border relations and cooperation between the two  neighbors.
  “The other important agenda is that we will discuss to set time frame for troop redeployment from the provisional demilitarized  zone (PDZ) near Preah Vihear temple to comply with the order of the International Court of Justice,” he added.
  “The outcome of the Joint Secretariat meeting will be submitted to the two countries’ defense chiefs to check and make the  final decision on Dec. 21,” he said.
  “I believe that the meeting will go smoothly with mutual understanding and close environment in order to achieve the expected  outcome to bring full security, stability and better living condition to the two countries’ peoples residing along the border,”  Voravit Darunchoo said at the opening of the meeting.
  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. Thailand claims the ownership of 4.6 square kilometers  (1.8 square miles) of scrub next to the temple.
  On July 18, the International Court of Justice ordered Cambodia and Thailand to immediately withdraw their military personnel  from the provisional demilitarized zone covering about 17 square kilometers on the disputed border near Preah Vihear temple and  to allow ASEAN observers access to the zone to monitor ceasefire.