(Phnom Penh): Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has taken note of the recent misleading statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand regarding the Cambodian-Thai border disputes and the Memorandum of Understanding on the Survey and Demarcation of Land Boundary (MoU 2000), signed on 14 June 2000 by the two countries, according to a statement seen by Fresh News on Monday (Jul. 7).

In this regard, the Ministry wishes to provide the following clarification:

1. Cambodia reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the peaceful settlement of border disputes, in strict conformity with international law, including the UN Charter, the ASEAN Charter, and the MoU 2000. Cambodia’s conduct in this matter is grounded in its good faith adherence to treaty obligations and the principles of sovereign equality and peaceful dispute resolution as enshrined in the UN Charter.

2. It must be underscored that Thailand has repeatedly failed to fulfill its core obligations under the MoU 2000, in particular Article 1, which explicitly affirms that the maps produced by the Franco-Siamese Commissions of Delimitation of the Boundary between Indochina and Siam shall serve as the basis for the boundary demarcation process. Contrary to this binding commitment, Thailand has persistently imposed and applied unilaterally drawn maps to assert territorial claims and to carry out encroachments into Cambodian territory. These actions constitute a material breach of international law and the MoU 2000, which remains legally binding on both States.

3. Cambodia’s decision to refer the matter to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is a measured, rule-based, and peaceful response to Thailand’s continued violations of the MoU 2000, the use of armed forces, acts of provocation and its demonstrated unwillingness to respect the mutually agreed framework for joint demarcation. The ICJ, as the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, is a recognised and legitimate forum for adjudicating international legal disputes, including boundary matters — particularly where bilateral mechanisms have stalled due to persistent violations of the MoU 2000 by one party.

4. Cambodia therefore calls upon Thailand to comply in good faith with its treaty obligations, including the MoU 2000, to cease all unilateral actions on the ground, and to engage constructively in the peaceful settlement of disputes, including through the recognised international legal mechanism of the ICJ.
=FRESH NEWS