Thais to talk P Vihear but still taking it slow

Thu, 28 November 2013, Phnom Penh Post, Kevin Ponniah

Although state news agency AKP reported on Wednesday that a Thai delegation will visit Cambodia next month and “exchange information” with the government on the ICJ’s Preah Vihear verdict, the Thai Foreign Ministry emphasised yesterday that they are still analysing the judgment and are yet to officially accept it.

According to AKP, the Thai embassy has announced that a Thai delegation led by the Thai Political Development Council (PDC) will visit the Kingdom for five days from December 9.

Aside from calling on National Assembly president Heng Samrin and Prime Minister Hun Sen, “as of the schedule, the delegation will also visit Ministry of Information to exchange information between Cambodia and Thailand on the case of Preah Vihear temple”, AKP reported.

The Thai embassy could not be reached for comment.

The November 11 verdict clarified that Cambodia had sovereignty over the temple’s promontory but left much of the 4.6 square kilometre area that the Thais dispute unresolved, paving the way for

direct negotiations.

Thai foreign ministry spokesman Sek Wannamethee said yesterday that the Thai government was still “studying” and translating the verdict.

“The fact that both sides have agreed to meet, that is one obligation that has been announced. Otherwise, for other details . . . both the Cambodian side and Thai side need to go through internal processes,” he said, adding the PDC was “not involved” with the ICJ decision.

Earlier this month, Information Minister Khieu Kanharith said that Cambodia would not “rush” to pressure Thailand to implement the verdict due to domestic political strife.

But Sek yesterday said that the “political situation has not disrupted our work”.

Contact author: Kevin Ponniah