On 13 November 2008, H.E. Mr. Sompong Amornvivat, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, gave a press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the Third Thai-Cambodian Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held in Siem Reap, Cambodia, on 12 November to discuss issues concerning the area adjacent to the Temple of Phra Viharn. The ministerial meeting was preceded by the meeting of the Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) on 10-12 November.
The Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister described the meeting with H.E. Mr. Hor Namhong, Deputy Foreign Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia as well as that of the JBC as amicable with both sides showing readiness to accommodate each other’s concerns. The Minister took the opportunity to reiterate his appreciation to his counterpart and the Cambodian officials for the warm hospitality extended to the Thai delegation. He also expressed his appreciation for the work done by both delegations in the JBC, which on the Thai side was led by the newly appointed JBC Co-Chair Vasin Teeravechyan.
On the outcome of the meeting with his counterpart, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sompong said both sides were able to agree on most of the issues on the table, with only two issues pending.
The first was the question of how the Temple should be called in the Provisional Arrangements and other documents — the name used by the Thai side being “Phra Viharn” as also appears in the negotiation framework approved by the Thai Parliament, while that used by the Cambodian side “Preah Vihear”. The other issue was about the details of troop redeployment, concerning which Cambodia proposed certain changes.
Because these two issues depart from the negotiation framework earlier endorsed by the Thai Parliament, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sompong said, the Thai side would have to seek approval from Parliament. He also added that during the meeting, he had explained to his Cambodian counterpart that the Thai side, in negotiating with Cambodia, had to abide by the negotiation framework endorsed by its Parliament through the process prescribed in the Thai Constitution, and that any matter that deviated in substance from that framework would have to be brought back for consultation with Parliament. In the meantime, the Minister said, he had established a hotline with the Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, which he would use as and when necessary.
In response to a question posed, the Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister said on Thailand’s part, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would report the outcomes of the Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and of the JBC to the Cabinet and seek the Cabinet’s decision to submit the two pending issues to the Parliament for its consideration as soon as possible. As for other issues that do not require parliamentary approval, Thailand and Cambodia would be able to proceed as agreed.
In response to another query raised by the press about which documents would be used in the survey and demarcation work of land boundary, especially in the Phra Viharn area, with Cambodia saying it would use the map done by France. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sompong said that the Thai side would primarily use the 1904 Convention and 1907 Treaty between Siam and France, while also taking into account other relevant documents. The map referred to by Cambodia was one among other relevant documents, which — Director-General of the Department of Treaties and Legal Affairs Virachai Plasai added — had to be considered together and read in conjunction with the Convention and Treaty. The Director-General also said the JBC has agreed to establish a working group to look at legal matters. The working group is scheduled to meet in January 2009.
Prime Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Press Division, Department of Information Tel.(02) 643-5170
Fax. (02) 643-5169 E-mail : div0704@mfa.go.th End.