POST REPORTERS and dpa
| |
The security agency agreed the disputed and undemarcated 4.6-square-kilometre area was not included on the map, Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama said.
Experts from the Royal Thai Survey Department earlier went to the temple area to verify the map Cambodia is using to support its application that the ruins be registered as a World Heritage site.
Preah Vihear temple is in Cambodia, on the border adjoining Kantharalak district in Si Sa Ket province.
If the Thai cabinet finds the map acceptable, Cambodia will forward all the documents, including the map and the joint statement, to the 21-nation World Heritage Committee, which will meet in Quebec from July 2 to decide which of the new proposed sites should be included on the World Heritage List.
Unesco says Thailand's backing is necessary if Preah Vihear is to be listed.
A government source said the NSC meeting was concerned the issue would be politicised, which could lead to conflict between the two countries ahead of the July 27 general election in Cambodia.
Mr Noppadon had earlier demanded soldiers and other officials in charge of considering the new map to stop commenting on the sensitive issue.
But academics remained sceptical about negotiations between the Thai and Cambodian governments.
Senator M.R. Priyanandana Rangsit suggested at a seminar on the issue that the Thai government should protest against Cambodia's attempt to register the Preah Vihear temple, or at least defer any decision on it, for fear that it would absorb the overlapping territory in the future.
M.L. Walwipha Charoonroj, of the Thai Khadi Research Institute, suspects the rush and collaboration of politicians from both sides might have something to do with personal gain.
Foreign affairs permanent secretary Virasakdi Futrakul said the Foreign Ministry has been assured by experts of various agencies that Thailand would not lose any territory to Cambodia under the new map.
No comments:
Post a Comment