via Khmer NZ
BANGKOK, Aug 4 - Thailand's Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Suwit Khunkitti on Wednesday denied he had signed any legally binding document on Preah Vihear, asserting that the document he signed at the World Heritage Committee (WHC) meeting in Brazil was a non-binding draft and Thailand consequently is not at a disadvantage against Cambodia.
Mr Suwit, who led the Thai delegation to the just ended the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Commission (WHC) meeting in Brazil, was interviewed by telephone on a Modernine TV news programme saying that the five-point document he signed was a general document including the result of the WHC meeting, the documentation report and the meeting resolution to postpone the discussion in Cambodian Preah Vihear development plan to next year's meeting.
As for the issue on the approval on the joint committee establishment, Mr Suwit said it was the progress report and Thailand had asserted that it
did not agree with the plan.
He added that the document was only a draft and not a Memorandum of Understanding or similar document that could bind Thailand legally or put
Thailand at a disadvantage.
The minister also said he was still wondering about the statement by Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An who led the Cambodian delegation at WHC meeting announcing victory over the matter.
The WHC last week postponed discussing Cambodia's development-management plan for the ancient temple until next year when it meets in Bahrain.
The heritage committee had decided to postpone discussion on the thorny issue because the two neighbouring countries could not find common ground to settle the disputed 4.6 sq km of lightly forested land near the temple.
Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An however said later that Cambodia had achieved its goal when the UNESCO committee agreed to consider its plan for managing Preah Vihear temple -- but not emphasising it would be next year.
Political activist Veera Somkwamkid on Monday urged Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to clarify Mr Sok An's claim that the two countries had reached an understanding on managing areas near the temple.
He also questioned the document Mr Suwit had signed during the meeting over Cambodian Preah Vihear management plan.
Preah Vihear temple was awarded to Cambodia by the International Court of Justice in 1962. UNESCO named the temple a World Heritage site in 2008 after Cambodia applied for the status, while the dispute over the 4.6 sq km contested zone between the two countries remains unsolved.
Under the terms of the listing, Cambodia is required to submit a management plan for WHC approval, but Thailand insisted that the matter should not be discussed unless the two neighbours first resolve their dispute over the zone adjacent to the temple. (MCOT online news)
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