PM: Thailand ready to talk with Cambodia over Preah Vihear dispute

Mcot.Net
04/08/2010

BANGKOK, Aug 4 – Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Wednesday said he was ready to assign his deputy Suthep Thaugsuban to hold talks with Cambodia on the Preah Vihear dispute if the Khmer leadership gives a positive signal for negotiation.

Following the Cabinet resolution, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Suwit Khunkitti will form a committee to prepare information to argue against Cambodia’s attempt to propose temple management plan which the Thai government has made clear that its position is to protect national sovereignty.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Commission (WHC) last week postponed discussing Cambodia's development-management plan for the ancient temple until next year when it meets in Bahrain.

The heritage committee decided to postpone discussion of the thorny issue because the two neighbouring countries could find no common ground to settle the disputed 4.6 sq km of lightly forested land near the temple which was granted world heritage status in 2008.

To pave the way for solving other problems, Cambodia must first accept that the unilateral listing of Preah Vihear as world heritage and its implementation of other related procedures are likely to escalate tensions, the prime minister said.

If Cambodia agrees to it and is ready to negotiate, it will be a good start, Mr Abhisit said, adding that any solution must also take into account the livelihood of local residents living along common border of the two countries.

However, if Cambodia sends a positive signal, he is ready to send his deputy Mr Suthep to hold talks with Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen to resolve the conflict.

“It must await a good timing and response from parties concerned. There has been no sign of interest to discuss a framework from Cambodian government so far. Any cooperation, which does not affect the border, is likely to be useful,” he said.

However, the issue if being exploited to take advantage over the territory will become a major obstacle which block any further move, Mr Abhsit warned.

Deputy prime minister Suthep, who supervises security affairs, said earlier that he was willing to meet the Cambodian prime minister if asked by Mr Abhisit.

Preah Vihear temple was awarded to Cambodia by the International Court of Justice in 1962. UNESCO named the temple a World Heritage site in 2008 after Cambodia applied for the status, while the dispute over the 4.6 sq km contested zone between the two countries remains unsolved.

Under the terms of the listing, Cambodia is required to submit a management plan for WHC approval, but Thailand insisted that the matter should not be discussed unless the two neighbours first resolve their dispute over the zone adjacent to the temple. (MCOT online news)