VietNamNet Bridge – Cambodia and Thailand have agreed to comply with the order of the International Court of Justice to withdraw their troops from the disputed border area surrounding the Preah Vihear temple.

The agreement was reached during talks between newly appointed Thai Defense Minister Yuthasak Sasiprapha and his Cambodia counterpart, Tea Banh in Phnom Penh on September 23.

Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Banh told reporters after the talks that Phnom Penh and Bangkok had agreed to implement the International Court of Justice verdict.

Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Banh said that Cambodia and Thailand have agreed with each other to comply with the International Court of Justice order on troop pull-out at the area near Preah Vihear temple and to allow Indonesian observers to monitor ceasefire at the area. However, the exact date for the troop withdrawal will be discussed at the meeting of the General Border Commission in the future.

Meanwhile, the Thai Defence Minsiter affirmed no more tension between Cambodian and Thai troops. He added that Thailand ’s Defence Ministry is ready to hold a meeting with the Cambodian side in order to bring better situation to the border.

Thai Defense Minister Yuthasak Sasiprapha said w hen he returns from Cambodia , he will propose that the Thai cabinet organise a meeting between the two countries’ Defence Ministries during the General Border Committee meeting.

On the same day, the Thai Defence Minister was received by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, who said that the Cambodia-Thailand relation has returned to normal and the two countries’ armies must cooperate in bringing a peaceful life to people living along the joint border line.

Thailand-Cambodia border tension has eased since the former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's Pheu Thai Party won a landslide victory in the general elections on July 3.

VietNamNet/Vietnam Plus