MOSCOW, November 11 (RAPSI) – The International Court of Justice (ICJ) resolved a long-lasting territorial dispute between Cambodia and Thailand, ruling that the lands around the ancient Hindu temple of Preah Vihear , located between the two kingdoms, belong to Cambodia, Reuters reports on Monday.
Cambodia asked the ICJ for clarification of its 1962 ruling, that stated that the temple complex of Preah Vihear, dating back to the Ankgor Empire (XI-XII A.D.) was Cambodian, but left the status of 4.6 cubic kilometers of the surrounding grounds unclear. As a result, both Thailand and Cambodia laid claim to the territory. The disputed territory sparked a number of skirmishes between the armies of the claimants. In early 2011, a two week border war using tanks and heavy artillery was waged in the region.
After the International Court’s ruling, Thailand is obligated to withdraw all military and police personnel from the region.