Cambodia Reaffirms Commitment to Border Peace and Calls for Enhanced ASEAN Observer Role

Cambodia: Cambodia has reaffirmed its commitment to de-escalation and peaceful dialogue with Thailand, while calling for the full implementation of existing border agreements and a strengthened role for the ASEAN Observer Team (AOT).

According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the Cambodian Prime Minister, Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet, emphasized these points during a joint press conference held after the Trilateral Meeting with leaders of the Philippines and Thailand at the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu, Philippines. The discussions focused on confidence-building measures and efforts to restore a functioning framework for lasting peace and re-normalised bilateral relations.

The meeting addressed the resumption of bilateral mechanisms, including the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC), General Border Committee (GBC), and Regional Border Committee (RBC), following the restoration of full functionality within Thailand's new government. The Prime Minister expressed appreciation for the AOT's continued involvement and thanked ASEAN member states for their support. He also welcomed the Philippines' new leadership of the AOT from Malaysia.

Cambodia pledged full cooperation with the observer mission and called for an enhanced role for the AOT in verifying and ensuring the implementation of the ceasefire and all agreed measures. Samdech Thipadei also highlighted the importance of people-to-people exchanges, including initiatives through the Cambodia-Thailand Friendship Association, as part of broader efforts to rebuild trust and promote mutual understanding.

The leaders agreed to assign their foreign ministers with the task of continuing detailed discussions in a practical and results-oriented manner. Samdech Thipadei reiterated Cambodia's stance that borders cannot be altered through force or the creation of a 'fait accompli' on the ground, urging the full and immediate implementation of the Joint Statement from December 27, especially regarding the resumption of border survey and demarcation work under the JBC framework.

According to the Cambodian Prime Minister, this mechanism is crucial to ensuring the end of the practice of fait accompli on the ground and to guarantee that sovereignty, territorial integrity, and international boundaries are respected in accordance with international laws and existing treaties and agreements.