The Secretary-General of the Council of State referred the issue of canceling MOU 44 to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stating that it can be done if it does not affect international law. He noted that Thailand and Cambodia must mutually agree to start anew in setting regulations.
At 09:30 on 17 Feb 2026 at the Government House, Mr. Pakorn Nilprapunt, Secretary-General of the Council of State, said regarding Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul's directive to study the cancellation of the 1994 MOU that the Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to study this matter. The cancellation process must consider international law and the agreements from meetings to see if it is possible. In principle, it can be done, following a required procedure, which depends on the conditions involved.
When asked if both countries would need to negotiate to draft new rules after cancellation, Mr. Pakorn said it depends on whether the two countries agree to start over. He suggested asking the Ministry of Foreign Affairs instead, adding that he is not specialized in international law but more familiar with Thai law.
When asked about the legal perspective on election ballots containing QR codes and whether they would be invalid, Mr. Pakorn asked if anyone had filed a complaint with the court yet. If a case has been filed, he advised waiting for the court's ruling and cautioned against making statements outside the proper process. If the matter is before the court, it is best to await its decision. He said giving different interpretations serves no benefit.