July 5, 2008
By Supalak G Khundee
The Nation
Thailand will ask the World Heritage Committee to postpone consideration of Cambodia's application to list Preah Vihear Temple, Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama said yesterday.
The government will also propose applying for a World Heritage listing for the site jointly with Cambodia, he said.
"At the Quebec meeting, I will tell the World Heritage Committee that our previous support for [Cambodia's] application has already been withdrawn," Noppadon told reporters.
However, the minister said he was not confident that the latest Thai position would delay a decision by the committee, since the previous military-installed government under Surayud Chulanont had already committed to support an application by Cambodia.
He quoted the decision by the World Heritage Committee after a meeting in Christchurch, New Zealand, last year that "Cambodia and Thailand agreed that Cambodia will propose the site for formal inscription on the World Heritage list at the 32nd session of the World Heritage Committee in 2008 [in Quebec] with the 'active support' of Thailand".
"I am afraid Cambodia could take the previous decision to back up its application, but I assure that I will do my best to protect our national interest," he said.
The foreign minister will lead a Thai delegation to the meeting of the World Heritage Committee next week. His support for Cambodia's application became a political burden for the government following accusations by senators, MPs and street protesters that he was undermining the country's sovereignty.
An Administrative Court interim injunction forced the government to withdraw the support and the Constitution Court is now considering whether the joint communiqu้ Noppadon signed with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An is unconstitutional.
Noppadon testified in the Constitution Court yesterday that the communiqué was not a binding agreement to cause any change in the country's sovereignty, so it was not required to pass a reading in Parliament under Article 190 of the Constitution.
The Foreign Ministry and other agencies that handled the issue and dealt with Cambodia have done their best to protect the national interest and no one could accuse them of betraying the nation, Noppadon said.
"It's fine if you don't like me, but don't accuse me of betrayal because I also love my country and protect my country," he said.
The government will also propose applying for a World Heritage listing for the site jointly with Cambodia, he said.
"At the Quebec meeting, I will tell the World Heritage Committee that our previous support for [Cambodia's] application has already been withdrawn," Noppadon told reporters.
However, the minister said he was not confident that the latest Thai position would delay a decision by the committee, since the previous military-installed government under Surayud Chulanont had already committed to support an application by Cambodia.
He quoted the decision by the World Heritage Committee after a meeting in Christchurch, New Zealand, last year that "Cambodia and Thailand agreed that Cambodia will propose the site for formal inscription on the World Heritage list at the 32nd session of the World Heritage Committee in 2008 [in Quebec] with the 'active support' of Thailand".
"I am afraid Cambodia could take the previous decision to back up its application, but I assure that I will do my best to protect our national interest," he said.
The foreign minister will lead a Thai delegation to the meeting of the World Heritage Committee next week. His support for Cambodia's application became a political burden for the government following accusations by senators, MPs and street protesters that he was undermining the country's sovereignty.
An Administrative Court interim injunction forced the government to withdraw the support and the Constitution Court is now considering whether the joint communiqu้ Noppadon signed with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An is unconstitutional.
Noppadon testified in the Constitution Court yesterday that the communiqué was not a binding agreement to cause any change in the country's sovereignty, so it was not required to pass a reading in Parliament under Article 190 of the Constitution.
The Foreign Ministry and other agencies that handled the issue and dealt with Cambodia have done their best to protect the national interest and no one could accuse them of betraying the nation, Noppadon said.
"It's fine if you don't like me, but don't accuse me of betrayal because I also love my country and protect my country," he said.
