UNESCO backs proposal to postpone consideration of Preah Vihear temple management plan

27 May, 2011
(MCOT online news)

BANGKOK, May 27 -- The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) supports Thailand's request for the agency's World Heritage Committee (WHC) to postpone consideration of the management plan for the areas surrounding the World Heritage-listed temple, pending demarcation of the border between Thailand and Cambodia.

A Thai delegation led by Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Suwit Khunkitti met with UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova affirming Thailand's stance to delay consideration of Preah Vihear Management plan at the 35th session of World Heritage Committee June 19-29 as under the management plan, Thai sovereignty would be violated.

Ms Bokova earlier met with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An and Senior Minister in Charge of Border Affairs Va Kim Hong to propose that Cambodia withdraw its temple management plan from the WHC agenda until the two countries could determine their common border.

The Cambodian said it would refer the request to the government for consideration and would response the UNESCO's proposal this afternoon.

The separate meetings of the UNESCO chief with the Thai and Cambodian delegates was held after the first round of talks Wednesday failed to produce progress on the border dispute.

The UNESCO-organised meeting between Thailand and Cambodia in Paris was scheduled prior to the meeting of the World Heritage Committee in an attempt to resolve the two countries differences after Cambodia opposed Thailand's request that the committee defer consideration of Cambodia's one-party Preah Vihear management plan until the International Court of Justice rules on its complaint and awaiting progress on border demarcation at the Thai-Cambodian General Border Committee (GBC) meeting.

Last month Cambodia asked the court to clarify a 1962 ruling on the ancient Hindu temple on its disputed border with Thailand following recent deadly armed clashes between the two neighbouring countries.