1. The Special Session of the Thai-Cambodian Joint Commission on Demarcation for Land Boundary (JBC) was held at the Office of the Council of Ministers, Phnom Penh, on 6-7 April 2009. The Meeting was a success, yielding significant progress in the process of the two countries’ boundary negotiation.
2. H.E. Mr. Vasin Teeravechyan, Advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand and H.E. Mr. Var Kim Hong, Senior Minister and Advisor to the Cambodian Government in charge of Border Affairs, respectively led their delegation to the said Meeting. The JBC members of both sides comprise officials from the various agencies in various fields of responsibility, such as security, legal affairs and technical survey works.
3. The meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere with a common aim of resolving boundary issues through peaceful means.
4. The most significant success was that the two sides were able to sign the Agreed Minutes of the last two meetings, which had earlier contained some pending issues, together with the Agreed Minutes of this meeting. The three Agreed Minutes which have been signed were: (1) the Agreed Minutes of the Special Meeting of the Thai-Cambodian Joint Commission on Demarcation for Land Boundary in Siem Reap on 10-12 November 2008 (2) the Agreed Minutes of the Fourth Meeting of the Thai-Cambodian Joint Commission on Demarcation for Land Boundary in Bangkok on 3-4 February 2009 (3) the Agreed Minutes of the Special Meeting of the Thai-Cambodian Joint Commission on Demarcation for Land Boundary in Phnom Penh on 6-7 April 2009 The three Agreed Minutes were signed subject to confirmation through diplomatic channels that the two sides’ respective internal legal procedures required for its entry into force have been completed. For the Thai side, these documents must be approved by the Parliament before such confirmation can be given.
5. Regarding the Provisional Arrangement on Border Issues in the Area of the Temple of Phra Viharn, both sides successfully reached an agreement on the use of the term “Temporary Military Monitoring Groups”. Therefore, there remains only one pending issue to be further discussed which is the appellation of the Temple of Phra Viharn. The latest draft of the Provisional Arrangement is attached in the Agreed Minutes of this meeting.
6. In addition to the aforementioned progress, the meeting yielded further development on many other issues as follows:
(1) The Meeting reaffirmed their common view that Step 2 of the TOR, which is to produce Orthophoto Maps at the scale of 1:25,000 along the entire boundary line should be implemented at the earliest opportunity. The Technical Officers of both sides exchanged their views on the technical aspects of the production of Orthophoto Maps at this meeting. The JBC tasked the Technical Officers to resume their discussion at the earliest opportunity. The date and venue of such meeting would be communicated through diplomatic channels.
(2) Both sides agreed that the Joint Field Survey for Fact Finding Mission on the Condition and Locations of Boundary Pillars 1 to 23 in Sector 5 could commence from May 2009.
(3) Both sides further discussed the draft Instruction for the Joint Survey on Sector 6 (Boundary Pillar 1 — Khao Sattasom). The JBC tasked the Technical Officers to finalize their discussion on the draft Instruction if possible before the end of May 2009.
(4) Pending the conclusion of the Provisional Arrangement, both sides agreed to start the joint survey and demarcation work in Sector 6 as soon as the Instruction for the Joint Survey in Sector 6 is finalized.
(5) Both side reaffirmed that the First Special Session of the JBC to discuss legal matters on the issue of Sector 6 shall take place at the commencement of the joint survey and demarcation work in such sector. The date and venue of the meeting would be communicated through diplomatic channels.
(6) Both sides took note that the technical officers had agreed on the text in the English language of the draft Reports of the Thai-Cambodian Joint Field Survey for Fact Finding Mission on the Condition and Locations of Boundary Pillars for 29 Boundary Pillars (23-51), and agreed that a Joint Technical Officer meeting will be convened to finalize the draft Reports for further submission to the JTSC and the JBC for consideration and approval.
(7) The meeting took note that the Thai side will shortly communicate to the Cambodian side for consideration the draft text in the English language of the reports of the Thai-Cambodian Joint Field Survey for Fact Finding Mission on the Condition and Locations of Boundary Pillars for the remaining 19 Boundary Pillars (52-70) through diplomatic channels.
7. The next JBC meeting will take place in Thailand. Both sides will agree upon the dates and the venue through diplomatic channels.
7 April 2009
For further information, please contact the Press Division, Department of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tel.02-6435170, Fax.02-6435169, E-mail: div0704@mfa.go.th