ID :
135363
Fri, 07/30/2010 - 10:27
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http://m.oananews.org//node/135363
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World Heritage Committee postpones Preah Vihear development plan discussion to next year
BANGKOK, July 30 - The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)'s World Heritage Committee (WHC) on Thursday postponed the discussion on Cambodia’s management plan for the Preah Vihear temple to its meeting next year in Bahrain.
The issue was expected to be on the agenda of the 21-member WHC meeting Wednesday, but the group decided to drop the issue as the plan was not submitted in accordance with its standard procedures.
Thailand's Deputy Permanent Secretary for Culture Somsuda Leeyawanit who is one of 21 WHC members proposed that the meeting drop the issue from the agenda because the secretariat for the meeting did not distribute the document involved to committee members six weeks ahead of the meeting as required but handed the document to members less than 24 hours beforehand.
Committee members decided to postpone discussion of the Cambodian plan to its meeting next year in Bahrain.
The 34th WHC annual meeting is now taking place in the Brazil's capital of Brasilia and is scheduled to end August 3.
Thailand’s Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti who leads the Thai delegation earlier said in Brasilia that the Thai delegation tried to clarify to the committee members that Thailand and Cambodia could not settle their border disputes near Preah Vihear temple.
He said the team pointed out that the layout of the plan enclosed with the document did not clearly specify the area and apparently violated the Thai border.
The minister said both the WHC and its chairman acknowledged the problem and wanted to see Thailand and Cambodia find a joint solution on the controversial area before considering the management plan.
Mr Suwit thanked all those involved including Thais who supported the delegation, saying that Thai officials concerned would jointly prepare evidence and documents to protect Thailand's rights in the contested area.
In 1962, the International Court of Justice awarded the temple and the land it occupies to Cambodia.
The site of the historic structure, which lies along the disputed Thai-Cambodian border, has long been a point of contention between the two Asian neighbours.
On July 7, 2008, Preah Vihear temple was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Under the terms of the listing, Cambodia is required to submit a
management plan for WHC approval. (MCOT online news)
The issue was expected to be on the agenda of the 21-member WHC meeting Wednesday, but the group decided to drop the issue as the plan was not submitted in accordance with its standard procedures.
Thailand's Deputy Permanent Secretary for Culture Somsuda Leeyawanit who is one of 21 WHC members proposed that the meeting drop the issue from the agenda because the secretariat for the meeting did not distribute the document involved to committee members six weeks ahead of the meeting as required but handed the document to members less than 24 hours beforehand.
Committee members decided to postpone discussion of the Cambodian plan to its meeting next year in Bahrain.
The 34th WHC annual meeting is now taking place in the Brazil's capital of Brasilia and is scheduled to end August 3.
Thailand’s Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti who leads the Thai delegation earlier said in Brasilia that the Thai delegation tried to clarify to the committee members that Thailand and Cambodia could not settle their border disputes near Preah Vihear temple.
He said the team pointed out that the layout of the plan enclosed with the document did not clearly specify the area and apparently violated the Thai border.
The minister said both the WHC and its chairman acknowledged the problem and wanted to see Thailand and Cambodia find a joint solution on the controversial area before considering the management plan.
Mr Suwit thanked all those involved including Thais who supported the delegation, saying that Thai officials concerned would jointly prepare evidence and documents to protect Thailand's rights in the contested area.
In 1962, the International Court of Justice awarded the temple and the land it occupies to Cambodia.
The site of the historic structure, which lies along the disputed Thai-Cambodian border, has long been a point of contention between the two Asian neighbours.
On July 7, 2008, Preah Vihear temple was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Under the terms of the listing, Cambodia is required to submit a
management plan for WHC approval. (MCOT online news)
