Cambodian officials andacademics have hailed a ruling by the International Court of Justice(ICJ) on November 11 reaffirming the the country’s sovereignty over thedisputed Preah Vihear temple as "just and acceptable".
Following the November 11 decision, in The Hague Cambodian Deputy PrimeMinister and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong expressed his satisfactionwith the verdict, though he acknowledged it is does not resolve 100percent of Cambodia ’s concerns.
Spokesman for thecountry’s Council of Ministers Phay Siphan, said the ICJ's decisionclearly showed that the temple and its vicinity belong to Cambodia .
"Now we have the result, it will require political will fromthe two countries to fully implement the verdict in order to avoid anymilitary clashes," he told Chinese news agency Xinhua over thetelephone.
In a brief statement broadcast live on state TV andradio from the Government House, Thai Prime Minister YingluckShinawatra said that the country is satisfied with the ICJ's verdict,which she declared is “beneficial” to the Thai side.
In abrief statement broadcast live on state TV and radio from the GovernmentHouse, Yingluck reassured that the ICJ did not rule on the disputedspots around Preah Vihear and instead suggested that Thailand andCambodia cooperate with each other via existing bilateral mechanismssuch as the so-called Joint Committee in order to settle all disputesbetween the two neighboring countries, according to Xinhua.
Following the unanimous ICJ verdict, Thailand and Cambodia willlook after Preah Vihear and the nearby areas, given assistance from theUNESCO, which declared the 1,000-year-old temple a World Heritage in2008, said the Thai Prime Minister.
Xinhua citied Thai DeputyPremier and Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul as saying thatboth Cambodian and Thai Governments are satisfied with the verdict.
The situation along the border near Preah Vihear temple currently remains calm following the ruling.-VNA
