By Supalak Ganjanakhundee
The Nation
Published on July 8, 2008
Unesco will likely agree today to list the Hindu temple of Preah Vihear as a World Heritage Site following Thailand's failure to delay such a decision, the head of the Thai delegation at the meeting in Quebec, Canada, said yesterday.
Meanwhile, business executives are worried the issue could turn into a cross-border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia.
Pongpol Adireksarn, chairman of Thailand's World Heritage Committee, said the Unesco panel had already agreed that the temple represents "a masterpiece of human creative genius".
This is one of six criteria by which its "outstanding universal value" is judged, so the green light is likely for Cambodia proposal to list Preah Vihear.
Prior to the meeting, Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama said Thailand would seek to delay the decision in the hope of adding elements of the temple's lying in Thai territory to the Cambodian application, thus completing the site's universal value.
However, Pongpol said although the site might not be perfect without the Thai section, which includes a large reservoir and other artefacts, the fact that it met only one criterion was enough for the committee to approve Cambodia's unilateral application.
Pongpol said Thailand's objection was invalid, because Cambodia insisted on offering only that part of the temple site under its sovereignty, in accordance with the International Court of Justice's decision on sovereignty in 1962.
The World Heritage Committee has acknowledged Thai concerns about both the temple's outstanding universal value and the Administrative Court's injunction under which the Thai government was forced to withdraw its support for Cambodia's application.
However, it said it could not delay a decision any longer, because the application had been pending for two years, Pongpol said.
Meanwhile, Pramon Suthivong, chairman of Thai Chamber of Commerce, said the Preah Vihear issue could affect border trade, but both countries would be hurt in terms of foreign investment if it is blown out of proportion.
The Nation
Published on July 8, 2008
Unesco will likely agree today to list the Hindu temple of Preah Vihear as a World Heritage Site following Thailand's failure to delay such a decision, the head of the Thai delegation at the meeting in Quebec, Canada, said yesterday.
Meanwhile, business executives are worried the issue could turn into a cross-border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia.
Pongpol Adireksarn, chairman of Thailand's World Heritage Committee, said the Unesco panel had already agreed that the temple represents "a masterpiece of human creative genius".
This is one of six criteria by which its "outstanding universal value" is judged, so the green light is likely for Cambodia proposal to list Preah Vihear.
Prior to the meeting, Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama said Thailand would seek to delay the decision in the hope of adding elements of the temple's lying in Thai territory to the Cambodian application, thus completing the site's universal value.
However, Pongpol said although the site might not be perfect without the Thai section, which includes a large reservoir and other artefacts, the fact that it met only one criterion was enough for the committee to approve Cambodia's unilateral application.
Pongpol said Thailand's objection was invalid, because Cambodia insisted on offering only that part of the temple site under its sovereignty, in accordance with the International Court of Justice's decision on sovereignty in 1962.
The World Heritage Committee has acknowledged Thai concerns about both the temple's outstanding universal value and the Administrative Court's injunction under which the Thai government was forced to withdraw its support for Cambodia's application.
However, it said it could not delay a decision any longer, because the application had been pending for two years, Pongpol said.
Meanwhile, Pramon Suthivong, chairman of Thai Chamber of Commerce, said the Preah Vihear issue could affect border trade, but both countries would be hurt in terms of foreign investment if it is blown out of proportion.
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