Thailand still undecided on Preah Vihear stance

News Desk
The Nation (Thailand)

The Thai government has yet to discuss whether Thailand should ask Cambodia to jointly register the ancient Preah Vihear temple on the ThaiCambodian border as a World Heritage Site, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday.



A joint submission for the registration of the temple as a World Heritage Site would only create more confusion because border demarcation in the area is still unclear, he said.

Abhisit said questions could be raised regarding ownership of the area adjoining the temple. However, he suggested, a settlement could be made on condition that neither Thailand nor Cambodia claim ownership of the disputed area.

So far the Cambodian government has not considered applying for jointly registering the site with Thailand, he said.

The United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) accepted Cambodia's application to designate Preah Vihear as a World Heritage Site last July.

However, last month Unesco agreed at a meeting in Seville, Spain, to delay the formal registration until February next year as the organisation still has a number of other matters to implement.

Delaying the formal registration came after complaints from Thailand said the temple listing had led to several armed clashes near the temple and urged the UN agency to review its decision.

With regard to negotiations about reducing troops near the Preah Vihear area, Abhisit said concerned officials from the two countries were still looking for ways to reduce tension and solve the problem in a peaceful manner.

Posted in: Cambodia,News