Cambodia, Thailand keen to agree on border temple
Posted : Tue, 06 May 2008 10:01:23 GMT
Author : DPA
Phnom Penh - Cambodia and Thailand said Tuesday that the ancient
border temple of Prey Vihear was not in dispute and Thailand would not
obstruct it being accepted as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. "The
process of listing the Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage Site is
a Cambodian internal affair," Cambodian spokesman Phay Siphon said.
"Both governments agree to cooperate."
Siphon told journalists after a meeting between Cambodian Deputy Prime
Minister Sok An and a Thai delegation led by Thai Permanent Secretary
for Foreign Affairs Virasakdi Futrakul that the talks were cordial.
The temple, known as Khao Phra Viharn in Thai and predating Angkor Wat
by a century, is a sacred site to both nations but can only be
accessed easily from the Thai side.
Despite Thai protests, it was awarded to Cambodia in 1962 by the
International Court of Justice in The Hague but has historically
remained a contentious issue between Thais and Khmers.
Both sides are accused of deploying troops there in recent years, but
on Tuesday, both sides were keen to be seen as in agreement.
Siphon declined comment about whether any other talks had been held on
the two nations' still-disputed border demarcation or whether these
have been as cordial.
Because of the rugged border terrain and a history of colonialism and
war in Indochina, borders in the region remain a hot issue with
potential mineral and oil reserves in the balance.
Siphon said he was not aware of a visit by World Heritage
representatives to the temple this week, which diplomatic sources have
said would go ahead.
In a speech to mark World Press Freedom Day over the weekend,
Information Minister Khieu Kanharith was also conciliatory.
He urged journalists to keep their work on the temple issue factual
and calm and not to incite problems that do not exist between the two
neighbours.
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