22/06/2011
APINYA WIPATAYOTIN THANIDA
Bangkok Post
Thailand has begun to lobby the World Heritage Committee to host the organisation's meeting next year.
Four countries - Thailand, Cambodia, Russia and Bahrain - have put their names forward to host the annual meeting of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation's WHC in 2012, officials said.
A government source said Thailand's bid to host the next meeting could give the country more sway over the body's decision when it considers Cambodia's plan to manage the ancient Preah Vihear temple, which has caused a border dispute between the two countries.
But, things could turn around if Cambodia is selected as host, the source said.
The plan to pursue the event came after the cabinet appointed a committee, chaired by Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti, to work on making an application.
In an effort to win votes, Mr Suwit, who heads the Thai delegation, yesterday hosted a dinner for delegates from other nations as well as WHC officials.
In light of their ongoing border conflict and their business before the WHC, chances are slim that either Thailand or Cambodia would be chosen to host the meeting, said Manit Siriwan, a former member of the National World Heritage Committee.
Russia is a more likely candidate because it has never hosted a WHC meeting before, he said.
Cambodia has never been host either.
Thailand hosted the 18th session of Unesco's general conference in Phuket in 1994, the first Asian country to do so.
Mr Manit also said that being host would not give Bangkok an edge over Cambodia on the Preah Vihear issue.
The WHC meeting host does not have privileges over other countries, he said.
"Good relationships with the other 20 member countries, not being the host country, will put Thailand at an advantage when we want to seek their support," he said.
Unesco's rules state each WHC member can nominate itself as host for the next meeting. The host for the 2012 meeting will be announced on June29, the last day of this year's WHC meeting.
8 comments:
well, it is obvious siem knew they failed so perhaps it's their way of influencing unesco by proposing host it in thailand. i think unesco should not siem trick it or influence unesco professional and lawful decision, instead, unesco should host their meetings in the future in cambodia. cambodia will always welcome unesco and all other international organization to host a meeting in our country of cambodia, really! may god bless cambodia always.
Cambodia government must be congratulated on Preah Vihear's stance. It has been great efforts from PM, Hun Sen.
Also please look into every corner of our border issues in smart way. We will call a super Khmer hero Hun Sen.
the fact is cambodia changed, and many khmer leaders in cambodia changed and reformed as well. it reflected in the growth and development and prosperity of the country in cambodia, you know! i'm for any khmer leader(s) who reform themselves and our country. yes, cambodia transformed or changed, for the better, that is. thank god and god bless cambodia.
say no to siem offering to host unesco! it's a siem trick in order to violate unesco law, etc; don't fall for it, really!
Leaders learn from the mistakes in the past and take every critics into accounts in reasonable responses. Change Cambodia to a prosperous country. Indepennt counrty, indendent leaders stop listening to Youn!
I wouldnt give a shit about that temple Preah Vihear any more since land around that area is lease to some corrupted business for 99 years for a stupid rubber plant. And here we are as a soldier trying to fight and died defending ours country. Where the Khmer high official selling the land like is his. So it seem like I;m protecting the rubber plants for some business bullshit. I'm going back to PP.
well, that's your stupid opinion, 11:04am! i hope you're not a leader want-to-be in cambodia because you don't care about preah vihear temple and surrounding areas in respect to law, it shows you are the type that give away lands to the thug-like neighbors like during the dark ages era, etc! it was stupid attitude like yours that caused cambodia to lose lots of lands and territories to siem, youn, and to some extent even laos. most khmer people don't feel like you about "don't care" about preah vihear, etc... as khmer, we all have to care about not losing anymore khmer lands, seas, territories, etc siem, youn and laos, ok! i can't stand anybody who say they don't care about khmer lands, etc. i hope you are not one of those careless, uneducated leader want-to-be in cambodia because certainly khmer people do not want nor need you at all, really!
1:18PM! Would you figt to serve people who stole yoour land?
Are you stupid or what?
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