Response to the Interview of the Thai Foreign Minister on France 24

 

This Thai FM has been nothing short of an embarrassment to even his countrymen and a complete disgrace to international diplomacy and the civilised world. His evasive language, rhetoric and unsubstantiated claims serve only to highlight contradicting facts on the ground and confirm Thailand's hypocrisy and lies. Talking of "humanitarian principles", "international laws" and accusing a disproportionately weaker party of initiating the conflict whilst using F-16s to terrorise civilians and bomb civil infrastructures and sacred ancient sites like Preah Vihear, bridges, homes, schools etc. are hardly the acts of one ‘abiding by international laws’ or diplomacy. 

In one interview when reminded that the issue of ownership over Preah Vihear temple was already settled in 1962 by the ICJ in Cambodia's favour, the same FM claimed that 'There are Khmer ruins in Indonesia too. It does not mean Cambodia owns them'. Now that is news to you and me! Allowing Thailand to get away with its aggression against a neighbouring state like Cambodia who is much smaller and weaker in every means and respect will set a dangerous precedent and example for the region and the wider world where states settle their differences through military violence without even trying to engage peaceful dialogue or existing legal mechanisms.

- Social media 

 

 

អាណានិគមយួនអាចរឹតត្បិតសេរីភាពបាន តែមិនអាចឃុំឃាំងបេះដូងស្នេហាជាតិរបស់បងប្អូនខ្មែរក្រោមបានឡើយ។

មហិច្ឆតាឈ្លានពានទន្ទ្រានទឹកដីកម្ពុជាពីសំណាក់ចោរសៀម

ប្រមុខការទូតកម្ពុជា និងថៃ តតាំងគ្នារឿងវិវាទព្រំដែន នៅក្នុងកិច្ចប្រជុំក្រុមប្រឹក្សាសិទ្ធិមនុស្ស UN

 

If Hun Sen's interference in Thailand's internal affairs is really the reason for Thailand's grievances then Thailand should deal with him personally like the US's president Trump did with Maduro of Venezuela instead of this wholesale attacks against Cambodian civilians and civil infrastructures as well as seizing Cambodian territory by force, using shipping containers and barbed wires as fences and obliterating homes and properties under Thai military occupation. 

It is also the height of Thai hypocrisy that this same Thailand and its Foreign Minister have the temerity to denounce Trump's aggression against Venezuela, urging "restraint" by Washington!! The bottom line that remains and still stands out is: while Thailand accuses Cambodia of “territorial encroachments” then why has it not sought resolution through international and legal mechanisms instead of using its vastly superior military arsenal to reclaim the territory in question? In any case, Thailand’s acts of aggression against Cambodia and her people are disproportionately unjustifiable under the terms of even Thailand’s cited grievances relating to scams or “territorial encroachments”. 

-Social media 

Breaking! ផ្ទុះឃ្លាំងគ្រាប់នៅខេត្តសុរិន្ទ

ថៃស្នើដកទ័ពខ្លួនពីព្រំដែនថៃ-កម្ពុជា

Instrumentalization of Border Disputes: A Smoke-and-Mirrors Strategy for Political Influence

Thai Navy Seizes Cambodian Fishing Boat in Disputed Waters

Phnom Penh denounced the capture of the vessel and its crew as “an unauthorized incursion” into Cambodian territorial waters.

By Sebastian Strangio
February 23, 2026

D

  

Credit: Depositphotos

Thailand’s Navy yesterday seized a Cambodian fishing boat that it said was operating in Thai territorial waters, prompting an angry protest from Phnom Penh and adding additional strain to the two nations’ tense relationship.

The First Naval Area Command said that the boat was intercepted and confiscated at 10 a.m. at latitude 11°31.51’ North and longitude 102°53.40’ East, Khaosod English reported.

The Navy also detained three Cambodian crew members “who were unable to communicate in Thai and had no identification documents or lawful vessel entry/exit paperwork,” according to a report by The Nation. The crew admitted they had been fishing in Thai waters for two days, it added. Both they and the vessel were then taken to a port in Trat province for processing.

The Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs swiftly issued a statement protesting what it described as “an unauthorized incursion” into Cambodian waters, stating that the seizure took place “approximately 7.2 nautical miles from Koh Yor, in Koh Kong province” – i.e., within Cambodia’s territorial waters. “These actions constitute a clear violation of Cambodia’s sovereignty and territorial waters, as well as international law,” it stated.

ឃើញហើយពិបាកនិយាយណាស់

ថៃព្រមានវាយកម្ពុជាលើកទី 3 ព្រោះខឹងកម្ពុជាបកអាក្រាតនៅអន្តរជាតិ

Historic UNESCO Site Damaged Amid Renewed Tensions on Thailand-Cambodia Border

Hun Manet in interview with Fox News

Golden memories ...

 

Cambodia seeks economic reset after Thailand border war batters trade and remittances

Shuttered borders have choked trade and sent migrant workers home, forcing Phnom Penh to seek new partners and markets

Published: 3:00pm, 17 Feb 2026Updated: 3:23pm, 17 Feb 2026

 

Cambodia is scrambling to shore up an economy battered by months of border conflict with Thailand, as shuttered crossings choke trade and hundreds of thousands of migrant workers return home to fewer jobs and lower pay.

Prime Minister Hun Manet is travelling to the United States and Europe this week seeking to diversify markets and secure new investment, part of a broader effort to reduce Cambodia’s reliance on Thailand after the fighting forced supply chains to be diverted and slashed remittance flows.

Months of border fighting in the second half of last year killed at least 149 people on both sides and brought the closure of land crossings that had handled about US$5.6 billion in trade.

Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul made the conflict and the border closure a feature of stump speeches during his election-winning campaign this month. While his win remains to be ratified by election authorities, the border remains closed and a touchstone issue for nationalists on both sides.

An estimated 900,000 of the 1.2 million Cambodians working in Thai construction sites, fields and factories have returned home so far, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO).

But there are only 400,000 jobs available, Cambodia’s Ministry of Labour has said.

“They went back in a rush to see what is available in their hometowns,” said Rebecca Napier-Moore, an ILO migrant advocacy rights officer. “Not everyone is finding work.”

Cambodian PM says Thailand occupying ‘deep’ territory after ceasefire

Hun Manet calls for border demarcation and says US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace could ‘play a role’.

 

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and US President Donald Trump talk as they sign documents during the signing of a ceasefire deal between Cambodia and Thailand in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, October 26, 2025 [Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters]
 

 

By Al Jazeera Staff and Reuters
Published On 18 Feb 202618 Feb 2026

Al Jazeera reporting and independent mapping efforts have shown the presence of Thai-placed shipping containers and barbed wire in several provinces, including Pursat and Banteay Meanchey. 

 

Thailand continues to occupy parts of Cambodia after multiple ceasefire agreements ended months of deadly fighting late last year, Cambodia’s prime minister has said.

“We still have Thai forces occupy[ing] deep into Cambodian territory in many areas. This is further beyond even Thailand’s own unilateral claim,” Hun Manet said in an interview with the Reuters news agency on Tuesday while travelling to Washington, DC, to attend a meeting of United States President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace.

“This is not an accusation, but it’s a statement of the facts on the ground,” he said in his first interview with international media since taking over as prime minister from his father in 2023.

Thailand did not immediately respond to the claims. Thai military officials have previously said operations were limited to reclaiming areas within Thai territory.

Thai troops placed shipping containers and barbed wire inside areas that Thailand had previously recognised as Cambodian territory, he said, rendering about 80,000 people unable to return home.

ហេតុអ្វីអ្នករកស៊ី និងមន្ត្រីខិលខូចមួយចំនួនមិនខ្លាចច្បាប់ ប៉ុន្តែបែរជាខ្លាចបណ្តាញសង្គមទៅវិញ?

សង្រាម ចឹត្តត្រជាក់ ...

 

This is what Thailand fears the most: Khmer unity through re-unification. Whenever Thailand – Siam - and Vietnam – Annam – captured Khmer territories they took away not only lands and villages but also their inhabitants, often in the hundreds of thousands and even millions as they still remain today in Thailand and Vietnam. This not only immediately deprived Cambodia of lands which fed human population but also weakened or even decimated Cambodia’s means of defence as she could no longer recruit men to serve in the armed forces or military. 

The Thais have been cautious with the way they treat the ethnic Khmers in Thailand, knowing what would happen if these substantial minority populace have cause or grievances against them and seek a break way from Thai rule as the Thais or Siamese themselves had done from the Khmer rulers in the past and as the Muslims in the South of Thailand are doing. 

This softly approach or carrot rather than stick that the Thais use to deal with the Khmers in Thailand or former Khmer provinces may succeed in keeping the Khmers happy and content yet it conceals the Thais’ cunning method as well as deadly intentions when dealing with the ethnic Khmers. Those Khmers in Thailand who still feel the Thais have their Khmer people’s best interests at heart only have to witness what they are doing to their Khmer brethren across the border in Cambodia and their desecration of Khmer sacred temples such as Preah Vihear and Ta Krobey which are living embodiments of the Khmer soul and heritage; the fruits of the labour, blood and sweat of their common Khmer ancestors to see through this veil of Thai hegemonic intentions and deceptions. Choose true freedom not subjugation. 

 - Social media 

 

Displaced Cambodians in limbo as nationalist victory in Thailand adds to pressure

By Reuters
February 13, 202611:39 AM GMTUpdated February 13, 2026

 

A woman prepares food at Wat Chansi refugee camp, where residents from Prey Chan village and Chouk Chey village have been staying since clashes between Thailand and Cambodia, in Banteay Meanchey province, Cambodia, February 11, 2026. REUTERS/Soveit Yarn

PREAH VIHEAR, Cambodia, Feb 13 (Reuters) - Six weeks after a ceasefire ended fighting at the Thai-Cambodian border, thousands of displaced Cambodians still hope to return home, despite an election victory in Thailand by nationalists who want to wall off the disputed frontier.

In Banteay Meanchey province, Proeung Sopheap, 59, was visiting her abandoned home in the border village of Prey Chan for the first time since the December clashes to collect some personal belongings and cooking utensils.

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"I don't know what led to this fighting," she said. "Like other Cambodians, I want peace, not war."

In an election last week, Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul romped to victory on a platform that includes building a wall at the border.

During a visit to the area on the Cambodian side, most of the people Reuters spoke to said they knew nothing about last week's Thai vote or what the implications might be for the area.

Pich Vorn, displaced from the neighbouring village of Chouk Chey, said he just wanted his house and land back.

"Even if it is small, it is where I have lived for many years."

ពលរដ្ឋថៃជាច្រើនប្រតិកម្មមិនសុខចិត្តខ្មែរ លួច ចុះនេះចុះនោះសប់មុខខណះអ្នកនយោបាយថៃអាឡៃតែឈ្លោះគ្នា...

 

Apart from a tiny minority, most Thais grow up thinking and believing everything they have and 'owned' are of their national origins and heritage, from culture, dress and written script to ancient temples and lands, including "lost lands" that Thailand presently is seizing from Cambodia illegally along the border. Little do they know that even their capital city - "Bangkok" - is a derivative of Khmer word: 'Boeung Kok'. At most historical sites in Thailand one can still see Khmer script written in Pali or Sanskrit because this was - and still is - believed to be endowed with religious authority or prowess. 

The Thais would have to return to their T'ai birthplace in southern China to find their own authentic identity and culture. Most Thai xenophobes and ultra-nationalists' hatred towards Khmers and Cambodia today is partly a reflection of this bitter and twisted inferiority complex and their collective inability to own up to the truth, resulting from centuries of historical distortions and misinformation on the part of Thailand's school curriculum and deliberately falsified historical accounts. 

 

 - Social media

 

 

ការបន្តចាប់ឃុំខ្លួនអ្នកនិយាយរឿងព្រំដែននិងបញ្ហាសង្គមកំពុងក្លាយជាក្តីបារម្ភពីវិនាសកម្មជាតិ

បក្ស អនុធិន ឈ្នះឆ្នោតហើយ តើនឹងមានរឿងអ្វីបន្តទៀត?

ទស្សនៈបណ្ឌិតកែមឡី

ថ្ងៃទី 9 ខែ 2ឆ្នាំ 2026 ពីរខែមួយថ្ងៃរក្សាភាពស្ងៀមស្ងាត់របៀបម៉េចបើគេធ្វើដល់ថ្នាក់ហ្នឹងតើខ្ញុំមានវាសនាបាននូវភូមិជោគជ័យវិញឬមួយក៏អត់ទេ។

ថៃនាំមន្រ្តី FBI ក្លែងក្លាយទៅពិនិត្យអគារ អូរស្មាច់ ក្នុងដីកម្ពុជា

She's right ...

ដូចផ្លូវសម្ងាត់​ ដ៏អាថ៌កំបាំងក្នុងល្អាង

"Sensitive issue"?

Cambodia asks France to provide historical evidence to help settle Thai border dispute

By Reuters
February 5, 20268:09 AM GMTUpdated 10 hours ago
 

 

Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet attends the retreat session of the 45th ASEAN Summit at the National Convention Centre in Vientiane, Laos, October 9, 2024. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha 
 

 

PHNOM PENH, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has asked France to provide historical documents to help resolve an enduring border dispute with Thailand that twice spilled over into armed conflict last year, Cambodia's foreign ministry said on Thursday.

Hun Manet wrote to French President Emmanuel Macron asking for access to any historical and technical documents that France might have that relate to the border, and also welcomed France's expertise and advisory support, the foreign ministry said in a statement dated February 4.

The 817-km (508-mile) border was first mapped by France in 1907, when Cambodia was its colony, and was based on the natural watershed dividing the country from Thailand.

Disputed territories include several renowned historical sites, including the 11th century Hindu temple Preah Vihear, known to Thais as the Khao Phra Viharn.

France's Embassy in Cambodia and the Thai foreign ministry did not immediately respond to separate requests for comment.

ដេញខ្មែរ ថែ ក្រពេី

ជនភៀសសឹក​ត្អូញត្អែរ​ពី​គោលការណ៍​មិន​ច្បាស់លាស់​របស់​រដ្ឋាភិបាល​ក្នុង​ការ​ដោះស្រាយ​បញ្ហា​ដីធ្លី និង​ផ្ទះ​សម្បែង ក្រោយ​យោធា​ថៃ​រំលោភ​...

Boeing and Air Cambodia Announce Airline's Largest Single-Aisle Order for up to 20 737 MAX Jets

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Feb 03, 2026, 02:08 ET
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-  Southeast Asian carrier places its first order with Boeing, boosting regional growth with the fuel-efficient 737-8
-  The 737 MAX will be the first Boeing airplanes operated by a Cambodian airline

SINGAPORE, Feb. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] and Air Cambodia today announced the airline's largest single-aisle order for up to 20 737 MAX airplanes in an agreement unveiled at the Singapore Airshow. This marks the Southeast Asian carrier's first purchase of fuel-efficient Boeing airplanes.

The airline finalized its firm order for 10 737-8 jets and opportunity for 10 more in December 2025. The order was previously unidentified on Boeing's Orders and Deliveries website.
 

 

New Boeing customer, Air Cambodia, orders up to 20 737 MAX jets that will fly in the airline’s new livery.

With the 737 MAX, Air Cambodia will renew and grow its fleet as air travel serves an increasing role in connecting people and places throughout the region. The airline will leverage the 737-8's capabilities, efficiency and passenger comfort features for its expanding network of high-demand routes across Asia.

"The 737-8 gives Air Cambodia the ideal combination of range, capacity and fuel efficiency to support our next phase of growth," said Dr. David Zhan, CEO of Air Cambodia. "This investment – Air Cambodia's largest narrowbody purchase – will let us launch direct services to important markets across North and Southeast Asia, and offer competitively priced travel for passengers, while creating local jobs and training opportunities that strengthen our communities."

The 737-8, which can fly up to 178 passengers in a two-class configuration with a range up to 3,500 nautical miles (6,480 km), is well-suited to support the airline's growing regional network. Air Cambodia will benefit from the airplane's flexible capacity and lower operating costs due to a 20% reduction in fuel use and emissions compared to the airplanes it replaces. 

"We are proud to welcome Air Cambodia as our newest 737 MAX customer and look forward to partnering with them to introduce the versatile and reliable 737-8 to the Kingdom of Cambodia," said Brad McMullen, Boeing senior vice president of Commercial Sales and Marketing. "We are committed to supporting the growth of aviation in Cambodia and throughout the region as Air Cambodia strengthens ties across Asia with these fuel-efficient airplanes."

Ceasefires Are Promises, Not Pauses

ប្អូនស្រី ឡី ហុងលី ទាំងស្អាត ទាំងពូកែ មានសមត្ថភាពមិនធម្មតា!

 

"In the Ukraine-Russia conflict drones are an integral feature of armies on both sides and there have been a number of Ukrainian youths who are highly skilled in the use of drones who have been recruited into the military and rendering outstanding service to their nation. 

In fact, most countries including Thailand have watched and learned from the modern role, indispensability and deployment of drones in any armed conflict yet, the Cambodian military, for whatever reasons, have not, making Cambodia's national defence - already comparatively disadvantaged - at an even more handicapped level - as have been witnessed in the recent armed clashes. From surveillance to transport and combat, drones are essential and an integral part of military strategy and personnel. 

Be smart and be resourceful with what you have so as not to make yourself a victim of others' aggression." 

-Social media

 

 

Cambodia protests Thai activities at Tamone, Ta Krabei temple sites

 

 

 

PHNOM PENH, Feb. 3, 2026 — Cambodia’s Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts has lodged a formal protest with Thailand over activities by Thai authorities at the Tamone Temple Complex and Ta Krabei Temple, saying both sites lie entirely within Cambodian territory and are protected under international law.

In a public announcement dated Tuesday, the ministry said the locations are clearly established as Cambodian by the Franco–Siamese Treaties of 1904 and 1907 and their officially recognized maps, which remain valid under international law. The ministry voiced grave concern over reports of serious damage and near-total destruction at Ta Krabei Temple, describing it as a sacred and historic site of deep cultural and spiritual significance to the Khmer people.

 

Cambodia said it cannot accept the use of force against cultural and archaeological sites, any unilateral restoration, conservation, registration or construction without Cambodia’s consent, or any action undermining the legal, historical and cultural status of the sites.

 

The ministry called on Thailand to immediately cease all activities at Tamone and Ta Krabei, respect Cambodia’s sovereignty, and resolve related issues peacefully and in accordance with international law, while reaffirming its commitment to protecting Cambodia’s cultural heritage and to cooperation based on legality and mutual respect.

 

បក្សប្រឆាំងថា កម្ពុជានឹងបាត់បង់ទឹកដីបន្ថែម បើនៅបន្តពឹងវៀតណាម

កាលណាបើថៃមានសព្វាវុធទំនើប ថៃនឹងវាយកម្ពុជា ប៉ុន្តែកម្ពុជាមានភាពក្លាហានតតាំងជាមួយថៃ។

ការ​គាំទ្រ​គឺ​ជា​ការ​យល់​ឃើញ​របស់​បងប្អូន​ តែ​យើង​គួរ​តែ​ចេះ​ថ្លឹងថ្លែង​

A US warship is making a friendship visit to a Cambodian naval base upgraded with China’s help

By  SOPHENG CHEANG
Updated 12:43 PM GMT, January 24, 2026

 

REAM NAVAL BASE, Cambodia (AP) — The USS Cincinnati arrived at Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base on Saturday, marking the first time a U.S. Navy warship has docked at the facility since its Chinese-funded renovation was completed early last year.

The completion of a new pier and dry dock at Ream has fueled concerns in Washington that China — Cambodia’s close ally and main provider of aid and investment — may have been granted exclusive access to the base.

Controversy has persisted since 2019 over reports of a potential 30-year agreement for Chinese military use of the site on the Gulf of Thailand. Although Beijing funded the base’s expansion, the Cambodian government has denied any agreement for exclusive Chinese privileges.

Prime Minister Hun Manet, who oversaw the base’s reopening in April 2025, has maintained that Ream is open to all friendly nations for joint exercises, provided the ships are not too large for the facility.

The Cincinnati is an Independence-class littoral combat ship, meaning it is designed to to operate close to shore and can operate in shallower waters than other warships. Its crew of about 100 is scheduled to engage in sporting events and other activities in the nearby city of Sihanoukville during its Jan. 24-28 visit.

“At this location our government has worked very hard to build this port so that all foreign vessels that wish to dock in Cambodia can do so,” In Sokhemra, the deputy commander of the base, told reporters gathered shipside.

មន្ត្រី​បក្ស​ប្រឆាំង​ស្នើ​ឱ្យ​រដ្ឋាភិបាល​ស៊ើបអង្កេត​ករណី​មេ​ប៉ូលិស​​ចោទ​កងកម្លាំង​ថ្នាក់ក្រោម​ថា​រត់ចោល​សមរភូមិ

 

Internal corruption, lack of discipline, disunity and poor leadership are the country's biggest foes, not the Thais. 

&&& 

អំពើពុករលួយផ្ទៃក្នុង កង្វះវិន័យ ភាពមិនចុះសម្រុង និងភាពជាអ្នកដឹកនាំមិនល្អ គឺជាសត្រូវដ៏ធំបំផុតរបស់ប្រទេស មិនមែនជនជាតិថៃទេ។ 

-Social media 

US attaché says Cambodian troop deployments at temples “normal”

  

The Thais can't seem to see the distinction between 'defensive' presence and 'offensive presence' at all and use their feigned ignorance to bombard these sacred temple sites, including the Preah Vihear temple. Also these ancient temples happen to perch right on top of the mountain range which falls within Cambodia's legally legitimate sovereignty according to the Franco-Siamese treaties of 1904-1907 which Thailand continues to refuse to recognise even after the 1962 ICJ verdict on Cambodia's ownership of the Preah Vihear temple and its vicinity. 

Accusing Cambodian troops of using these temples as "bunkers" has become the Thai military's favourite pretext for its callous destruction and desecration of these sacred sites, including the now severely damaged Preah Vihear temple which is listed as UNESCO's World Heritage Site. If there were no Cambodian troops stationed at all in these areas that fall within Cambodian sovereignty Thai troops would have simply walked into these areas without having to fire a single bullet, as they did in 1954 following the withdrawal of French colonial forces. The lightly armed Cambodian troops stationed at these temples for defensive purposes, moreover, posed no offensive threat to Thailand unless they were attacked first, mostly by Thai artillery and rockets. 

This is not the first time either that Thailand showed such disregard or vengeance towards Cambodia's sacred sites. Following the 1962 ICJ judgement over the Preah Vihear dispute the Thai army reportedly used elephants to pull down several central columns of the temple in obvious show of displeasure and revenge. Why else would they bomb Ta Krobey and Preah Vihear temples or demolish the Vishnu statue in the area during and after the recent clashes? 

These despicable actions could only speak of the moral depravity; callousness and barbarity of the perpetrators behind them while at the same time expose beyond any doubt the hypocrisy, lies and shamelessness of their apologists who are all too familiar on this site and other social media forums. 

-Social media 

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BANGKOK, Jan 24, 2026 — The Royal Thai Army on Thursday led a group of 23 military attachés from 20 countries to areas along Thailand’s border with Cambodia, the army said.

 

The delegation visited locations under the Suranaree Task Force in Ubon Ratchathani and Sisaket provinces on Thursday as part of an “Army Open House 1st Edition 2026” programme aimed at briefing foreign defence representatives on the security situation. The visit was led by Theeranant Nanthakhwang, director of the army’s intelligence department, according to a Thai military statement.

 

During the briefing, Matthew P. Stuck, the US assistant military attaché to Thailand, said it was normal for opposing sides to hold positions they regard as strategically important.

 

“It’s normal in warfare for each side to have its own strategic points,” he said, in remarks referring generally to troop deployments in contested areas.

 

Thailand has accused Cambodia of deploying troops near the Preah Vihear Temple, a long-disputed site on the border. Cambodia says its forces are deployed defensively within its territory.

 

The Preah Vihear area has been a recurring source of tension between Cambodia and Thailand despite international court rulings and bilateral talks.