Cambodian and Thailand may have broken a deadlock in a three-year border dispute, officials said Thursday.
The hope comes amid expectations that Thai parliament will approve the minutes of three joint border commission meetings early in December, despite an expected protest in Bangkok of the People's Alliance for Democracy.
In a bilateral meeting between Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and his Thai counterpart, Abhisist Vejjajiva, in Phnom Penh Wednesday night, the two discussed reducing tensions along the border near Preah Vihear temple, officials said.
Abhisit told Hun Sen during the meeting he expects the minutes to be approved, Koy Kuong, a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Thursday.
“Both sides have hope for passage by Thailand’s joint parliamentary committee on the Thailand-Cambodia Joint Boundary Committee's three-document meetings, led by both foreign ministers in 2008 and 2009,” Koy Kuong said.
Both sides have troops amassed along the border in Preah Vihear province, along a disputed strip of land near the ancient temple complex, which was listed as a Unesco World Heritage site under Cambodian management in 2008.
Efforts to reconcile the dispute stalled when Thai parliament failed to approved the meeting minutes, which outline steps leading to border demarcation, including the disputed area near Preah Vihear temple.
