BANGKOK, Sept 23 -- Thai Defence Minister Gen Yutthasak Sasiprapa (pictured) left Bangkok on Friday for Phnom Penh on an official visit to Cambodia to foster bilateral relations which turned sour because of protracted border disputes.
Gen Yutthasak told reporters before departing that his visit was aimed to strengthen the ties between the two governments and militaries.
He is scheduled to meet his Cambodian counterpart Gen Tea Banh to discuss the preparation for the upcoming Thai-Cambodian General Border Committee (GBC).
After the discussion, he said, Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs will submit the issues discussed to the National Security Council (NSC) and Cabinet for consideration.
According to the Thai Constitution, before any international documents can be signed, approval of Parliament is needed, but the Thai defence minister nonetheless expressed confidence that the GBC meeting would take place in late November.
He dismissed criticism that Thailand and Cambodia enjoyed healthy relations after the Pheu Thai-led government took office as a result of 'hidden agenda' between the two governments.
He said there would definitely be no hidden agenda, and that the government understands the national interest as the priority.
Gen Yutthasak also declined to comment on a report that Veerachai Palasai, Thai ambassador to the Hague would no longer head the legal team defending Thailand at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the border dispute, saying it was just rumour.
Thai Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul on Friday assured the public that the Thai legal team at the World Court would remain unchanged.
He told reporters during attending the 66th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York that the legal team will be the same, including the foreign legal advisers, for continuity and smooth working in defending the case.
A Thai legal team was set up during the previous government led by the Democrat Party to contest the border dispute in the court in response to Cambodia's request to seek the World Court’s interpretation of its 1962 ruling on Preah Vihear temple to clarify the territorial boundary between Thailand and Cambodia.
Mr Surapong said the Cabinet would also reconsider the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on overlapping maritime boundaries signed by Thailand and Cambodia in 2001 which was revoked during the previous government.
He said the government would be transparent and adhere to the national interest.
The MOU was signed by then-foreign minister Surakiart Sathirathai and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An on June 14, 2001, during the Thaksin Shinawatra-led administration.
The agreement enables Thailand and Cambodia, which share 26,000 square kilometres of overlapping maritime claims, to jointly develop oil and gas exploitation projects.
Mr Surapong added that the change of chairmen by Thailand for the Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) and Thai-Cambodian Joint Technical Committee were normal procedure after a change of government. (MCOT online news)
Gen Yutthasak told reporters before departing that his visit was aimed to strengthen the ties between the two governments and militaries.
He is scheduled to meet his Cambodian counterpart Gen Tea Banh to discuss the preparation for the upcoming Thai-Cambodian General Border Committee (GBC).
After the discussion, he said, Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs will submit the issues discussed to the National Security Council (NSC) and Cabinet for consideration.
According to the Thai Constitution, before any international documents can be signed, approval of Parliament is needed, but the Thai defence minister nonetheless expressed confidence that the GBC meeting would take place in late November.
He dismissed criticism that Thailand and Cambodia enjoyed healthy relations after the Pheu Thai-led government took office as a result of 'hidden agenda' between the two governments.
He said there would definitely be no hidden agenda, and that the government understands the national interest as the priority.
Gen Yutthasak also declined to comment on a report that Veerachai Palasai, Thai ambassador to the Hague would no longer head the legal team defending Thailand at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the border dispute, saying it was just rumour.
Thai Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul on Friday assured the public that the Thai legal team at the World Court would remain unchanged.
He told reporters during attending the 66th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York that the legal team will be the same, including the foreign legal advisers, for continuity and smooth working in defending the case.
A Thai legal team was set up during the previous government led by the Democrat Party to contest the border dispute in the court in response to Cambodia's request to seek the World Court’s interpretation of its 1962 ruling on Preah Vihear temple to clarify the territorial boundary between Thailand and Cambodia.
Mr Surapong said the Cabinet would also reconsider the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on overlapping maritime boundaries signed by Thailand and Cambodia in 2001 which was revoked during the previous government.
He said the government would be transparent and adhere to the national interest.
The MOU was signed by then-foreign minister Surakiart Sathirathai and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An on June 14, 2001, during the Thaksin Shinawatra-led administration.
The agreement enables Thailand and Cambodia, which share 26,000 square kilometres of overlapping maritime claims, to jointly develop oil and gas exploitation projects.
Mr Surapong added that the change of chairmen by Thailand for the Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) and Thai-Cambodian Joint Technical Committee were normal procedure after a change of government. (MCOT online news)
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