PM: Study of previous JBC meetings agreeable

via Khmer NZ

Published: 16/08/2010

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Monday he would have no objection if the House of Representatives and the Senate set up a joint committee to study the results of previous meetings of the Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission (JBC).

The results of three JBC meetings - in Siem Reap in late 2008, in Bangkok in February 2009 and in Phnom Penh in April 2009 - will be tabled by the Foreign Ministry for approval of the joint sitting of the upper and lower Houses on Tuesday.

Among the items up for parliament approval will be an aerial map of the border dividing the two countries and an agreement to establish a working group to demarcate the boundary.

Mr Abhisit said after Monday's cabinet meeting that he would have no objection if the two houses set up a joint parliamentary committee to study the outcome of the previous JBC meetings.

Government spokesman Panithan Wattanayagorn said the cabinet had assigned PM's Office Minister Sathit Wongnongtoey to coordinate with opposition MPs and senators and seek their cooperation.

"Parliament's approval of the results of the previous JBC meetings would enable the JBC to proceed with its work plans earlier agreed upon," he said.

The move follows Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya's announcement last Tuesday that Thailand wanted a JBC meeting soon to place all disputed areas on the negotiating table.

Secretary-general of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Surin Pitsuwan called for a peaceful solution to the border dispute between Cambodia and Thailand.

"We certainly would like to see a peaceful resolution to any problem in Asean," Mr Surin said after meeting Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong.

He said he would await a decision by Asean foreign ministers before responding to Cambodia's request for regional help in ending the row, which Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has warned could lead to fresh bloodshed.

Thailand and Cambodia have been locked in a troop standoff at their disputed border since July 2008, when the ancient Preah Vihear temple was granted Unesco World Heritage status.

The World Court ruled in 1962 that the temple belonged to Cambodia, although its main entrance lies in Thailand.

Mr Surin was expected to meet later Monday with Hun Sen.