Friday, 17 October 2008

UNESCO concerned over Thai-Cambodian clashes

Khabrein.info

PARIS, Oct 16 (KUNA) -- The Director General of UNESCO, Koichiro Matsuura voiced here Thursday his "grave concern" over news of an armed clash between Thai and Cambodian soldiers outside the Preah Vihear temple.

In this regard, Matsuura joined the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in expressing "distress" at the loss of human lives in the violence.

The World Heritage Committee last July inscribed the Temple of Preah Vihear on the World Heritage List for its exceptional universal value.

The inscription engages the collective responsibility of the international community to ensure its protection.

Matsuura reiterated UNESCOs support of all efforts and initiatives that promote cooperation and dialogue, and called on the concerned parties, taking into consideration this exceptional universal value, to resume negotiations "so that they may settle their disagreements peacefully." The two countries opened fire against each other on Wednesday along Cambodia's northern border, which has been the subject of a land dispute for decades, during which two Cambodian soldiers were killed and several Thai soldiers were injured.

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