We both win: Hor Nam Hong

“By asking the court to interpret the 1962 judgement, Cambodia has only one will to settle the dispute with Thailand peacefully and to have Thailand to stay as a good neighbor. We are close to each other, we cannot stay away,” he said.

The ICJ on Monday ruled that the vicinity of the Preah Vihear temple in according with Annex I map is under sovereignty of Cambodia. The territory in question does not cover the 4.6 square kilometre disputed areas but remains unclear how its exact size is.

Hor Namhong said he interpreted the court judgement that it recognises that the map in Annex I made by France-Siam Commission 1904 and 1907, which have verified the limit of the territory between Cambodia and Thailand in the area of Preah Vihear temple.

Secondly the court has also rejected the unilateral map made by Thai Cabinet resolution in 1962 to limit the vicinity of the Preah Vihear, he said.

“Thirdly, the judgement said Thailand has to withdraw the troops to Thai territory beyond the limit of the border defined by the Annex I map,” he said.

Asked how large it is, the Cambodia minister said he cannot give precise quantification without the map and noted that Thailand and Cambodia have to come together to jointly define the vicinity of Preah Vihear.

“So we have to talk through many mechanisms, at least two mechanisms the joint border committee, and the joint commission presided over by Thai Deputy Prime Minister Surapong (Tovichakchaikul) and myself in order to fully implement the judgment. In the spirit of peace in the border and stability at the border and people along the border would benefit from that peace,” he said. 

Prime Minister Hun Sen and Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra have made a strong commitment to comply with the world court judgement, he said.