Cambodian, Thai FMs to meet ahead of World Court's verdict over border row

Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong will meet with his Thai counterpart Surapong Tovichakchaikul on Monday next week--two weeks before a World Court's verdict over the border row between the two countries.

The meeting will be held in Poipet City of Cambodia, according to a statement from the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday.

"The meeting will discuss maintaining peace, security and stability along the border of the two countries," the statement said.

"It will also focus on further developing Cambodia-Thailand border areas, opening a number of new border checkpoints in order to create favorable conditions for the movements of goods and peoples along the border in those areas," it added.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) would issue its verdict on the border dispute between Cambodia and Thailand over a 4.6 square-km land near Preah Vihear temple on Nov. 11.

Preah Vihear, a Hindu temple, is located on the top of a 525- meter cliff in the Dangrek Mountains, bordering Thailand.

The ICJ awarded Cambodia the temple and its vicinity on June 15, 1962, but Thailand claimed the ownership of 4.6 square km of scrub next to the temple in 2008.

The 11th century temple had been a flashpoint of armed clashes between Cambodian and Thai troops since July 2008 when the UNESCO listed it as a world heritage site.

Cambodia brought the case of the disputed land to the ICJ in April 2011.

Koy Kuong, spokesman for the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said last week that whatever the ICJ's decision is, it will not affect the friendship and good cooperation between Cambodia and Thailand.