On 4 May 2011, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya spoke to the press about his meeting in Geneva, Switzerland with three international legal advisors, who will be part of the legal team representing Thailand following Cambodia’s submission of its request to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for interpretation of the 1962 judgment on the Temple of Phra Viharn case.  The Foreign Minister said that the purpose of the meeting was to update the three advisors about preparations made so far by the Royal Thai Government as well as discuss with them on what need to be done ahead of the oral hearing on Cambodia’s request for provisional measures from the Court, which could take place around 30-31 May 2011.

            The Foreign Minister also noted that the Thai Cabinet has appointed Mr. Virachai Plasai, Thai Ambassador to the Netherlands, as the country’s Agent.  It has also appointed the three international legal advisors, Judge ad hoc as well as a national committee and working group within the Foreign Ministry to support the country’s work on the case. 

             Foreign Minister Kasit said that a Thai delegation would be going to meet the legal advisors 3-4 days ahead of the oral hearing before the ICJ on Cambodia’s request for the indication of provisional measures, currently expected to be held on 30-31 May, to make necessary preparations, noting that during the hearing, both Thailand and Cambodia would be afforded approximately four hours each to present their respective observations.  As for Cambodia’s request for interpretation of the ICJ’s judgment, the Minister noted that the Thai side would have to submit written observations to the Court in approximately 4-5 months, and the Court could rule on this sometime next year. 

             In response to the question whether a change of government would affect Thailand’s preparations for the case, Foreign Minister Kasit underlined that this is a national agenda, and appealed through the media to the Thai people to be united and help contribute inputs.  While Thailand was last before the Court on this case some 50 years ago, he assured that the Thai Government has – over the past few years – been making preparations, given that Cambodia’s move is not beyond expectation.  The Government will keep the Thai public informed, he added, and asked that various groups should refrain from making comments that could cause confusion among the public.   Cambodia’s position, he noted, is to seek the Court’s interpretation about the vicinity of the Temple, as 50 years ago, the ICJ ruled only that the Temple of Phra Viharn is situated on the territory under Cambodia’s sovereignty but did not rule on the boundary.

             On the question whether Thai and Cambodian leaders would meet during the ASEAN Summit in Indonesia, the Foreign Minister said that it is the policy of the Thai side to pursue cooperation with Cambodia, at bilateral, regional and international levels.  The Thai side has also consistently stated that it is ready to have dialogue with Cambodia in any frameworks, be they the Thai-Cambodian Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation (JC), the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC), the General Border Committee (GBC), or the Regional Border Committee (RBC).  Be that as it may, Cambodian chose to bring the matter to the UN Security Council, which asked ASEAN to help facilitate dialogue between the two countries.  Most recently, the JBC was convened in Bogor, Indonesia, and progress was made.  Still, Cambodia decided to go to the ICJ.  All this shows that the problem does not lie with Thailand.  In addition, when the Thai Minister of Defence was invited to go to Cambodia for talks, Thailand demanded that hostilities cease before such negotiation could take place.  This, however, did not happen.  “None in the Thai Government has ever said they don’t want to negotiate,” he said, emphasizing that everything is up to Cambodia and asking the media to look deep into Cambodia’s position towards Thailand over the years.

              As for the terms of reference for the Indonesian Observer Teams, the Minister said that on 3 May 2011, the Thai Cabinet had approved it in principle.