Press Briefing – Update on the implementation of the immediate and unconditional ceasefire agreement between Cambodia and Thailand

Press Briefing – Update on the implementation of the immediate and unconditional ceasefire agreement between Cambodia and Thailand

Keynote Address by H.E. Chum Sounry, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MFAIC):

4:00PM, August 14, 2025

For the sake of truth, I wish to correct the misleading narrative that an official Ottawa Convention Meeting of States Parties will be held in Bangkok on August 15, 2025, and to set the record straight by outlining certain key misrepresentations versus facts as follows:

* Misrepresentation 1: An official Ottawa Convention Meeting of States Parties will take place in Bangkok on 15 August 2025.

FACT:

– The Ottawa Convention (Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention) holds its formal Meetings of States Parties once a year, under the coordination of the current Presidency.

– The next official Meeting of States Parties will take place in Geneva from 1–5 December 2025, under the chairmanship of Japan.

– The Bangkok event on 15 Aug 2025 is a Thai-organized diplomatic briefing—not part of the Ottawa Convention’s formal process.

* Misrepresentation 2: Participation by Ottawa Convention member states in Bangkok shows consensus against Cambodia.

FACT:

– Attendance is by Thai invitation only and does not imply endorsement of any allegations.

– States often attend briefings to listen, not to take sides.

– The Ottawa Convention operates on a humanitarian, non-politicized basis.

* Misrepresentation 3: The Ottawa Convention Secretariat is involved in organizing the Bangkok event.

FACT:

– The Convention Secretariat has no role in this event.

– The Secretariat’s functions are tied to official meetings and treaty implementation—not unilateral political briefings.

* Misrepresentation 4: Cambodia refuses to cooperate on mine action issues.

FACT:

– Cambodia is a committed State Party to the Ottawa Convention and complies fully with its obligations.

– Cambodia supports fact-based investigations and bilateral/ASEAN cooperation to address mine action concerns.

– Cambodia rejects politicized processes that risk undermining the Convention’s neutrality.

* Cambodia’s Position

I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate Cambodia’s position as follows:

– Cambodia categorically rejects the baseless claim that it has planted new landmines along the border.

– Cambodia reaffirms full compliance with its obligations under the Ottawa Convention and International Humanitarian Law.

– Cambodia remains committed to addressing mine action concerns through credible, fact-based investigation and through established bilateral and ASEAN mechanisms.

– We call on Thailand not to politicize the Ottawa Convention for bilateral disputes. Cambodia stands ready for genuine, impartial cooperation on mine action.