Thai authorities attend GBC meeting in Phnom Penh

BANGKOK, December 21 (TNA) - Defence Minister General Yuthasak Sasiprapa is leading Thailand's top brass military officers to attend the 8th Thai-Cambodian General Border Committee (GBC) Meeting in Phnom Penh, with 17 key issues included on the agenda. Hours before the latest Thai-Cambodian GBC meeting, which started at around 11am, the Thai and Cambodian sides held separate meetings to prepare their discussions. The 8th GBC meeting between Bangkok and Phnom Penh was postponed from June due to some unsettled issues. The key issues set to be raised at the one-day Thai-Cambodian GBC meeting include land and marine border security and military cooperation, namely joint efforts on clearing remaining land mines along the common border, plans on upgrading quality of life of both Thai and Cambodian people, especially those living along the frontier, and joint actions to comply with the International Court of Justice (ICJ)'s order, pending its decision on a case concerning Preah Vihear Temple-related issues earlier filed by Cambodia. Accompanying the Thai defence minister at the one-day GBC meeting include all Royal Thai Armed Forces top leaders and Permanent Secretary for Defence General Sathien Permthong-in. The Cambodian side is led by Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Tea Banh. The Thai and Cambodian authorities are scheduled to hold a joint press conference later on Wednesday, after the meeting. (TNA)