M&G Asia-Pacific News
Aug 5, 2008
Phnom Penh - The current land border disputes between Cambodia and Thailand over temples and territory must be settled before disputed sea borders can be addressed, government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said Tuesday.
Kanharith said Cambodia was bringing in legal experts for the complicated sea border issue, which potentially involves large amounts of oil.
Cambodia expects to begin tapping potentially rich offshore oil reserves by 2011, but its maritime borders with both Thailand and Vietnam have yet to be clearly demarcated.
'We will make the dry (land) borders first and after that the sea borders,' Kanharith said by telephone. 'We need to bring in legal experts to help us map the sea borders.
'If we just drew a straight line, we would lose everything, but don't worry, it will be okay.'
On Monday, Kanharith said the dispute with Thailand over territory around the Preah Vihear temple - named a Cambodian World Heritage site last month over Thai objections - and a new dispute over Ta Moan Thom temple several hundred kilometres further west, were not yet serious.
Phnom Penh complained that Thai troops posted near the Ta Moan Thom temple had prevented Cambodians from entry.
Cambodia said it wants a bilateral agreement on the border issues, but will seek the United Nations Security Council's help over the temples if necessary.
Vietnam, already a significant oil producer, has yet to step into the debate but government sources said it was taking a strong interest in the sea border negotiations.
Aug 5, 2008
Phnom Penh - The current land border disputes between Cambodia and Thailand over temples and territory must be settled before disputed sea borders can be addressed, government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said Tuesday.
Kanharith said Cambodia was bringing in legal experts for the complicated sea border issue, which potentially involves large amounts of oil.
Cambodia expects to begin tapping potentially rich offshore oil reserves by 2011, but its maritime borders with both Thailand and Vietnam have yet to be clearly demarcated.
'We will make the dry (land) borders first and after that the sea borders,' Kanharith said by telephone. 'We need to bring in legal experts to help us map the sea borders.
'If we just drew a straight line, we would lose everything, but don't worry, it will be okay.'
On Monday, Kanharith said the dispute with Thailand over territory around the Preah Vihear temple - named a Cambodian World Heritage site last month over Thai objections - and a new dispute over Ta Moan Thom temple several hundred kilometres further west, were not yet serious.
Phnom Penh complained that Thai troops posted near the Ta Moan Thom temple had prevented Cambodians from entry.
Cambodia said it wants a bilateral agreement on the border issues, but will seek the United Nations Security Council's help over the temples if necessary.
Vietnam, already a significant oil producer, has yet to step into the debate but government sources said it was taking a strong interest in the sea border negotiations.
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