Thailand and Cambodia Sign Prisoner Exchange Agreement

6 August 2009
Thai ASEAN News Network

The foreign ministers of Cambodia and Thailand have signed a prisoner transfer agreement and joined a Thai-Cambodian Joint Committee meeting to reinforce cooperation between the two countries after the meeting had been suspended for more than three years..

Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya and Cambodian Foreign Minister and Deputy Premier Hor Namhong have signed a prisoner transfer agreement between the two countries to set measures for convicts, after serving minimum period of imprisonment, to be transferred to serve their remaining sentences in their home countries. The agreement will enhance the collaboration in law enforcement of the two countries.

Moreover, the two representatives have joined the sixth Thai-Cambodian Joint Committee meeting to discuss further bilateral cooperation in various aspects such as education, culture, society, sciences, economics, tourism, and security after the meetings had been suspended for more than three years.

Cambodia to lift entry visa restrictions

Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, right, and his Cambodian counterpart Hor Namhongafter signing a prisoner exchange agreement in Bangkok yesterday. (JETJARASNARANONG)

6/08/2009
Writer: THANIDA TANSUBHAPOL
Bangkok Post

Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to waive visa requirements for each other's citizens starting next year to mark 60 years of diplomatic relations.

The agreement was reached yesterday at the Thai-Cambodian Joint Commission meeting led by Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong. The meeting was the first by the commission since talks were suspended three years ago.

The agreement to waive the visas for holders of ordinary passports is expected to be signed next year as part of activities celebrating the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries 60 years ago.

The decision leaves Burma as the only member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations requiring Thais wishing to enter the country to apply for a visa.

Hor Namhong said Thailand and Cambodia also agreed to strengthen cooperation on tourism by jointly promoting the sector under the Two Kingdoms, One Destination project and would expedite the single visa policy between the two countries.

He said the two sides would hasten the next Joint Boundary Commission meeting, chaired by former Thai ambassador to Seoul Vasin Teeravechyan and his Cambodian counterpart Var Kim Hong, and resume the Joint Technical Committee meeting on overlapping maritime claims which has been suspended since 2006.

Mr Kasit said all obstacles to border negotiations would soon be resolved.

In a joint statement, the two ministers said they would work together to identify the area bridging Sa Kaeo province and Cambodia's Banteay Meanchey province before setting up a new international checkpoint.

An Emerald Triangle meeting would be held soon to help develop human resources, Hor Namhong said.

Mr Kasit and Hor Namhong yesterday also signed an agreement that would allow some prisoners, after serving minimum periods of imprisonment, to be transferred in order to serve their remaining sentences in their own country.

Thailand, Cambodia To Speed Up Single Visa Scheme

BANGKOK, Aug 5 (Bernama)-- Thailand and Cambodia on Wednesday agreed to speed up a single visa plan under the Ayeyawaddy-Mekong-Chao Phraya Economic Cooperation (ACMECS) grouping to boost tourism between the two neighbours, Thai News Agency (TNA) reported.

Thailand's Minister of Foreign Affairs Kasit Piromya leading the Thai delegation and his Cambodian counterpart Hor Namhong met in the 6th Meeting of the Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation between Thailand and Cambodia (JC) held here on Wednesday.

The ministers told a joint news conference that their countries agreed to hasten the ACMECS Single Visa plan so that foreign visitors with a visa to either country can travel in both without having to apply for another entry visa.

The single visa is aimed at boosting tourism in both countries.

The ACMECS had since 2003 grouped Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam to use their varied strengths to promote balanced development in the sub-region.

Hor Namhong said that the meeting also considered opening a new permanent border crossing between Thailand's Sa Keao and Cambodia's Banteay Meanchey provinces.

The Cambodian minister said the new crossing will ease transport of agricultural produce between the countries.

For the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations next year, he said the countries will sign an agreement on visa exemptions for holders of ordinary passports.

The Cambodian foreign minister said the agreement will facilitate travel within the two kingdoms by their citizens, and help promote a better understanding and relationship.

The ministers also inked a pact on transferring sentenced persons and co-operation in enforcing prison sentences, an agreement which is aimed at boosting cooperation and improved law enforcement and judicial administration in both countries, as well as to benefit prisoners on humanitarian grounds.

Regarding the border clash between Thailand and Cambodia after last year's listing of the Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage site by the United Nations, Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), both countries agreed to solve the conflict at the Joint Border Commission (JBC).

The Joint Technical Committee will also speed up the negotiations over the overlapping maritime area, as earlier agreed by their leaders.

The Thai minister said the joint commission meeting also agreed to resolve the landmine problem along the shared border as soon as possible.

"After the development of Highway Route 68 connecting Kralanh with the town of O'Smach near the Thai border, trades and investment between Thailand and Cambodia will be carried out with convenience and more safety," Kasit said.

The Thai Cabinet earlier approved a Bt1.4 billion (US$41.2 million) soft loan to Cambodia for upgrading its Highway Route 68 under a 30-year contract.

Thailand and Cambodia resume ministerial talks

Wednesday, August 05, 2009
AFP

BANGKOK — Foreign ministers from Cambodia and Thailand resumed joint policy talks for the first time in three years Wednesday after months of fractious relations over a border temple dispute.

Cambodian foreign minister Hor Namhong and his Thai counterpart Kasit Piromya met at a Bangkok hotel to discuss the spat and deeper economic ties.

Violent clashes near the ancient 11th century Preah Vihear have left seven soldiers dead since July 2008 when the temple was granted UN World Heritage status.

High level delegations have met at various times over the past year in an attempt to heal rifts, but Wednesday's meeting is the first time since 2006 that ministers have convened their joint policy commission.

The body had previously met once a year to oversee relations between the two countries.

Cambodia and Thailand have been at loggerheads over the Khmer ruins for decades. Although the World Court ruled in 1962 that the temple belonged to Cambodia, its most accessible entrance is in northeastern Thailand.

Tensions have also arisen over disputed waters where both countries have granted oil and gas exploration rights to private companies.

After Wednesday's meeting both foreign ministers said the talks signified progress in relations.

"We agree to speed up the border talks so that the existing problems will be solved," Hor Namhong told a press conference.

"We also agreed to cooperate over human trafficking, as Cambodia faces this problem," he said.

The pair said they would resume a Joint Technical Committee on the maritime dispute and vowed the disagreement would not be an obstacle.

"Our problems will not trouble our relations. Whatever our troubles are, we will solve them," Kasit said following the two-hour meeting.

Senior officials met a day earlier in Bangkok, where they kicked off the talks covering cooperation on the economy, trade, education and the border issue.

The ministers also agreed to advance plans for visa exemption scheme when they celebrate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations next year.

They also signed an agreement that will allow some prisoners, after serving minimum periods of imprisonment, to be transferred in order to serve their remaining sentences in their own countries.

Thailand, Cambodia sign pact on transfer of sentenced persons

BANGKOK, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- Thailand and Cambodia signed a bilateral agreement on the transfer of sentenced persons and co-operation in the enforcement of penal sentences during the 6th Meeting of the Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation on Wednesday.

The agreement was signed by Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong, according to a news report by Thai News Agency.

From Wednesday to Thursday, Thailand has been hosting the 6th Meeting of the Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation in capital Bangkok.

The two-day meeting will focus on bilateral cooperation, namely education, politics, security, economics, society, science and technology and also incorporate the issues of cooperation in other multilateral frameworks including the ASEAN, the two ministers told a joint press conference.

The Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation between Thailand and Cambodia has provided a mechanism responsible for supervising and overlooking the overall bilateral relations between the two neighboring countries.

The commission comprises representatives from all governmental agencies of Thailand and Cambodia, who have been tasked with duties in the area of development and promotion of bilateral cooperation.

Another useless meeting with Thailand?

6th Thai-Cambodian Joint Commission meets in Bangkok

BANGKOK, Aug 1 (TNA) - Thailand will host the 6th Meeting of the Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation between Thailand and Cambodia (Joint Commmission) on Tuesday and Wednesday at the Centara Grand Hotel in Bangkok.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Kasit Piromya is heading the Thai delegation and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong leads the Cambodian delegation.

The parties will review past cooperation and plan future collaboration, according to a Thai foreign ministry statement.

The meeting is a time for Thailand and Cambodia to strengthen relations, and further discuss issues raised during Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva’s official visit to Cambodia on June 12.

The program and activities of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Thailand and Cambodia in 2010 are expected to be discussed.

The Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) will be held Tuesday, and the Joint Commission will meet Wednesday.

The countries foreign ministers will sign an agreement on transferring sentenced prisoners and cooperating to enforce prison sentences.

The Joint Commission is responsible for supervising the bilateral relations between the two countries.

The meeting will address bilateral cooperation in politics, security, economics, society, science and technology.

The parties will also consider cooperation in multilateral frameworks such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), Emerald Triangle and the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS).

The 5th JC Meeting was hosted by Cambodia February 7-10, 2006 in Phnom Penh.