U.S. ambassador Edgard Kagan says the Cambodia–Thailand General Border Committee ceasefire must be independently monitored, alongside humanitarian measures, to ensure stability and prevent renewed tensions along the border.
00:00The Cambodia-Thailand General Border Committee's ceasefire should be independently monitored as it is only the first step to peace.
00:09In an exclusive interview to Awani International, United States Ambassador to Malaysia Edgar Kagan highlights the importance of reaching a durable and effective ceasefire.
00:18I think that bringing the leaders here, getting them to agree to a ceasefire, getting them to agree to hold a meeting of the GBC, which is the General Border Committee, was very important.
00:33But the GBC is not an end. It is a step towards the end.
00:38I think that the most important outcome was the two countries met.
00:42They were able to reach agreement on a number of things having to do with the implementation of the ceasefire.
00:46They also agreed to have another meeting of the GBC within a month.
00:51And I think that all those things are part of the process of trying to reach a durable and effective ceasefire,
00:58which is very much in keeping with what President Trump, Secretary Rubio have called for and have pushed in their engagements with the leaders of Cambodia and Thailand,
01:07as well as in their conversations with Prime Minister Anwar.
01:11I think our view is there needs to be monitoring of the ceasefire.
01:16There needs to be independent monitoring.
01:18The GBC agreed that there would be an interim effort by ASEAN defense advisors and defense attaches based in Bangkok and in Phnom Penh.
01:30I think that's very, very important.
01:32In the end, the two countries are the ones who need to take the lead.
01:36They need to send very clear signals to all of their troops, all of their civilian personnel,
01:40to avoid any provocations, to fully implement the ceasefire.
01:45There should be independent monitoring of some kind or observation of some kind.
01:49And there needs to be redoubled commitment at every level to try and restore normalcy,
01:55bring civilians who fled back to the areas along the border,
02:00and try and also return detainees and make sure that both countries are taking steps to reduce tensions along the border.
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