Cambodia and Thailand on July 13 agreed to redeploy military personnel in the Provisional Demilitarised Zone (PDZ) surrounding the Preah Vihear Temple over the next few days.
The agreement was made during a meeting between Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and his visiting Thai counterpart Yingluck Shinawatra, according to Xinhua news agency, Yingluck approved Hun Sen’s troop withdrawal proposal in order to comply with the International Court of Justice (ICJ)’s order.
The meeting was also attended by defense ministers of Cambodia and Thailand , Tea Banh and Sukumpol Suwanatat.
Hun Sen said that the redeployment, which is of the will of both Cambodia and Thailand , is very important to enhance the two countries' relationship.
During the meeting, the two sides also agreed to open two additional border gates of Ansek, near the Preah Vihear Temple and Stungbot in Cambodia ’s Oddor Meachey province to boost bilateral trade.
Arriving in Siem Reap to attend the US-ASEAN business forum at the invitation of US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, both Hun Sen and Yingluck expressed their delight at the agreement, which will contribute to easing tension and stabilising the stand-off in the countries that share border region.
Earlier on July 12, Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong announced that Cambodia will withdraw some 486 military personnel from the PDZ surrounding the Preah Vihear Temple on July 18, in order to comply with the ICJ's order issued on July 18 last year.
Cambodia and Thailand have had sporadic border conflict over a territorial dispute near Cambodia 's Preah Vihear temple since UNESCO listed the temple as a World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008. Thailand claims ownership of 4.6 square kilometres of scrub next to the temple.
Fierce clashes between the two sides' troops happened in February and April 2011 during Thailand 's Democrat Party rule.
The ICJ ordered on July 18, 2011 that Cambodia and Thailand must immediately withdraw their military personnel from the 17.3 square kilometer PDZ and refrain from any armed activity directed at that zone.
Also, it ordered both parties to allow ASEAN observers to access the zone to monitor the ceasefire.-VNA