Thailand prepares for ICJ ruling on Preah Vihear case

BANGKOK, October 16 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister and Defence Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will call a meeting with agencies concerned on October 21 to discuss latest developments and to prepare for mechanisms to be introduced after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) rules on a Preah Vihear Temple-related case next month. Thai Deputy Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs Nattawut Potisaro told journalists of the move on Wednesday, when he also confirmed that the registrar of The Hague-based ICJ informed the Thai Ambassador to The Hague on October 15 that the World Court will give its verdict on the territorial dispute case between Thailand and Cambodia on November 11, 2013, at 4pm (Thailand's time). At October 21's meeting, Nattawut acknowledged, participants will discuss the proposed establishment of joint national-level Thai-Cambodian mechanisms or joint panels to follow the World Court's ruling. According to the senior official, the ICJ's ruling from The Hague should be live televised and translated for Thai people and to be distributed in printed copies, similar to those introduced during testimonies before the World Court by Thailand's representatives in April 2013. Meanwhile, the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expected four possibilities of the World Court's ruling, including firstly, the ICJ has no authority to rule on the case; secondly, the ICJ rules in favor of Cambodia; thirdly, the ICJ rules as Thailand requests and fourthly, the ICJ hands down a neutral ruling. (TNA)