Cambodia, Thailand agree on peaceful solution to border dispute

Cambodia and Thailand have agreed to maintain peace along the border regardless of the decision of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over territorial dispute near Cambodia's Preah Vihear Temple.

Speaking to Irina Bokova, Director General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said Monday that Cambodia brought the dispute to the ICJ in April 2011 to seek peaceful solution to the dispute.

He said the court is expected to issue a decision on who owns the disputed land around the temple by the end of this year.

"Whatever decision the ICJ makes, the Cambodian government of Prime Minister Hun Sen and the Thai government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will abide by the court's decision, and we will maintain friendship, cooperation and serenity along the border," he said.

Bokova said that she was pleased to hear that Cambodia and Thailand agreed to solve the border dispute near Preah Vihear Temple peacefully, adding that this peaceful solution was in line with the UNESCO's goal in protecting and conserving world heritage sites everywhere.

Sporadic border conflicts between Cambodia and Thailand over territorial dispute near Preah Vihear Temple have broken out since the UNESCO approved the temple as a World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008, but Thailand claims the ownership of 4.6 square kilometers of land next to the temple.

Deadly military clashes between the two neighbors happened in February and April 2011 during the rule of former Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

Bilateral ties has been improved since Yingluck Shinawatra took power in July 2011.

Bokova is in Cambodia to attend the 37th session of the World Heritage Committee, which was opened on Sunday and will last until June 27.