BANGKOK, Oct 29 (TNA) - A joint meeting of the Thai Parliament' s House of Representatives and Senate late Tuesday gave a green light to the proposed framework and approved the mandate of the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) to negotiate with Cambodia on talks to settle the disruptive border disputes between the two neighbouring countries.
After eight hours of closed door debate, the joint parliamentary session endorsed the framework of the tentative Thai-Cambodian agreement by a vote of 409 to seven, and approved the proposed framework for the talks on surveying and land demarcation between Thailand and Cambodia to be carried out by the commission by a 406 to eight vote.
The joint session was held behind closed door as requested by Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Sompong Amornvivat as the issue was considered to be sensitive by the government.
Parliament's endorsement is needed under the present constitution as it requires that all talks affecting sovereignty must be endorsed by both the Senate and the House.
During the debate, Opposition Democrat Party members of the House, as well as some Senators, expressed concern over the map to be used for the talks.
They said the map as presented was preparedunder the convention between Siam and the Indochina demarcation committees since 1904 which differed from the present map of Thailand.
If Thai side used this version for the talks, the kingdom would be at a disadvantage, they said.
To gain parliamentary approval, the foreign minister agreed to withdraw the map in question.
(TNA)
After eight hours of closed door debate, the joint parliamentary session endorsed the framework of the tentative Thai-Cambodian agreement by a vote of 409 to seven, and approved the proposed framework for the talks on surveying and land demarcation between Thailand and Cambodia to be carried out by the commission by a 406 to eight vote.
The joint session was held behind closed door as requested by Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Sompong Amornvivat as the issue was considered to be sensitive by the government.
Parliament's endorsement is needed under the present constitution as it requires that all talks affecting sovereignty must be endorsed by both the Senate and the House.
During the debate, Opposition Democrat Party members of the House, as well as some Senators, expressed concern over the map to be used for the talks.
They said the map as presented was preparedunder the convention between Siam and the Indochina demarcation committees since 1904 which differed from the present map of Thailand.
If Thai side used this version for the talks, the kingdom would be at a disadvantage, they said.
To gain parliamentary approval, the foreign minister agreed to withdraw the map in question.
(TNA)
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