The National Security Council and Cabinet convened a special meeting on Wednesday to review and endorse a preliminary ceasefire agreement with Cambodia. Chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, the session aimed to ratify an agreement reached during a General Border Committee (GBC) secretariat-level meeting in Malaysia.
Before the meeting, Deputy Minister of Defence General Nattaphon Narkphanit stated that the outcome would be measured against Thailand's approved framework. He outlined a three-stage process to gauge Cambodian sincerity, starting with the secretariat agreement, followed by a ministerial meeting, and finally, on-the-ground implementation.
General Nattaphon emphasized that the GBC framework is strictly limited to security and ceasefire matters and does not address border demarcation. That issue falls under the mandate of the separate Joint Boundary Commission (JBC), a process he noted Cambodia has been reluctant to engage in.
He also defended the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU43) as a valuable instrument for addressing acts of aggression. In response to reports in Cambodian media, he confirmed that the signed agreement, witnessed by international observers, proves mutual consent.