Thailand wins seat on World Heritage Committee

BANGKOK, Oct 27 (TNA) – A Thai government cultural official has been named to the United Nations committee which determines what heritage sites in all countries make it to the world register of historic sites overseen by the world body.

A Cambodian representative was elected to the committee as well, with one more point than received by Thailand.

Somsuda Leeyavanich, Thailand’s deputy permanent secretary for culture, was selected as a member of the World Heritage Committee of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which this month replaced 12 retiring country members, according to Minister of Culture Teera Slukpetch.

Mr Teera said the selection was held at the 35th session of the UNESCO's General Conference in Paris.

Twenty-nine countries nominated representatives to be considered in selecting the 21-member World Heritage Committee, with a quota of two positions for Asia. Four member countries, Cambodia, Indonesia, Iran and Afghanistan, were competitors of Thailand.

As for the Asian representatives, Cambodia and Thailand won seats with 83 and 82 points respectively, he said.

Other countries selected were Switzerland with 104 points, South Africa (78), France (73), Ethiopia (69), Mexico (56), Estonia (55), Iraq (52), Mali (46), United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Russia.The UAE was selected without rivals and Russia was selected in the second round as no countries in East European group received more than half of the total votes.

Ms Somsuda, 57, will be a member of the World Heritage Committee for four years, from now until 2013. She is the second Thai national who won a seat, the first being Dr Adul Wichiencharoen who held a seat for two terms, 1989-1995 and 1997-2003. He chaired the committee in 1991.

The World Heritage Committee establishes sites to be listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It is responsible for implementing the World Heritage Convention, defines the use of the World Heritage Fund and allocates financial assistance upon requests from UNESCO members.

Mr Teera said it was expected that during her four-year term as a member of the World Heritage Committee, Ms Somsuda could promote the kingdom's role in the world arena and push Thai historic sites and natural attractions as the world heritage sites.

As Thailand and Cambodia also win seats in the World Heritage Committee, the two countries could coordinate and promote improved bilateral relations and understanding of the dispute over the Preah Vihear Temple.

The border disputes between Thailand and Cambodia flared up after UNESCO granted the historic temple World Heritage Site status in July 2008, as the question of sovereignty over the land having was never clearly resolved.

The International Court of Justice awarded the temple to Cambodia in 1962, in a decision that Thailand was reluctant to accept. The surrounding land remains in dispute. (TNA)