CAMBODIA has again urged Thailand’s parliament to approve the minutes of recent Joint Border Committee meetings, so the two countries can recommence work on demarcation and de-mining along their sensitive shared border.

The request was made yesterday during a meeting between Nguon Nhel, first deputy president of the National Assembly, and a visiting Thai parliamentary friendship delegation led by Jittipot Viriyaroj.

On November 2, the Thai parliament was set to ratify the minutes of several JBC meetings from 2008 and 2009, but instead set up a committee comprising 30 parliamentarians to consider the issue, prolonging the ratification for another three months. Border demarcation cannot move ahead until the JBC minutes are approved.

During a visit to Phnom Penh earlier this week, Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya told his Cambodian counterpart, Hor Namhong, that the Thai parliament is examining whether the minutes are in line with Thailand’s Constitution.

The situation along the Thai-Cambodian border has been sensitive since the listing of Preah Vihear temple as a UNESCO World Heritage site in July 2008. The delegation returns to Thailand tomorrow.