Cambodia urges swift border demarcation restart as 20,000 stay displaced

Cambodia wants a fair and lasting settlement of its disputes with Thailand and has called for the full implementation of agreements between the two neighbours, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn told the 81st session of the UN General Assembly on Saturday. He said recent tensions and conflict had seriously eroded trust and confidence, and that more than 20,000 Cambodian civilians remained unable to return home.

Key facts

• Who spoke: Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn
• Where: the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, on Saturday
• What Cambodia wants: full implementation of agreements with Thailand and a prompt resumption of survey and demarcation work
• Displacement: more than 20,000 Cambodian civilians remain unable to return home
• Maritime dispute: Cambodia has started compulsory conciliation under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)

What is Cambodia asking for?

Prak Sokhonn called for the full implementation of agreements already reached between Cambodia and Thailand, and for survey and demarcation work to resume promptly through the two countries' Joint Boundary Commission. He also urged progress towards resolving outstanding boundary issues.

On relations more broadly, he said Phnom Penh continues to seek ties with Bangkok based on peace, cooperation and mutual respect, and that both countries stand to gain from a fair and lasting settlement.

What is happening with the maritime dispute?

Cambodia has initiated compulsory conciliation proceedings under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) after Thailand terminated a 2001 memorandum governing the maritime issue. No timetable for those proceedings was given in the address.

Why are civilians affected?

Prak Sokhonn said more than 20,000 Cambodian civilians remained unable to return home as a result of the tensions and conflict between the two countries. He called for progress towards resolving the outstanding boundary issues.

What this means for travellers

The address concerns the Cambodia-Thailand border and displaced civilians rather than any change to visa or entry rules, and no new travel requirements were announced. Travellers planning to cross between the two countries can note that border survey and demarcation work has yet to resume, and that more than 20,000 Cambodian civilians are still unable to return home.

No dates were announced for the resumption of Joint Boundary Commission work or for the conciliation proceedings. Cambodia also used the address to press for sovereign equality among UN member states, arguing that international law must be respected and disputes settled peacefully.