What's happening?

BangkokPost.com, dpa

Cambodia and Thailand were in total agreement about a famous border temple on Monday: Both claimed they were puzzled why Unesco called off a meeting with their foreign ministers over Wat Preah Vihear.

The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation late on Sunday cancelled a meeting with Thailand and Cambodia over efforts to put the Preah Vihear temple on the Unesco World Heritage list.

In Bangkok, officials said they had no idea why Unesco called off the meeting, which was to have taken place on Friday and Saturday in Paris. Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama was prepared for the trip, when Unesco notified the ministry of the cancellation.

But in Phnom Penh, there was even more confusion.

"We received no invitation from the Unesco about talks, so we do not understand why they said talks are cancelled," said Phay Siphan, spokesman for the Cambodian cabinet, or Council of Ministers.

The Cambodians said there was no question about jurisdiction over the temple, and the only topic up for discussion is border jurisdiction.

The campaign to make Preah Vihear a Unesco site has turned into something of a nightmare. Cambodia and Thailand must come to some agreement over putting the temple, known as Khao Phra Viharn in Thailand, on the world heritage list.

The temple is at the top of a sheer cliff which the World Court ruled in 1962 is in Cambodia. However, the only easy access to the temple is through Thailand. If that weren't enough, the border in the region, except for the actual temple grounds, is unclear because of border disputes.

Cambodia said on Monday that no discussions mediated by the UN body had been mooted in past months and the issue was under control without the need of intervention by a third party.

But Thai officials said they had been informed that Unesco will now send its representative, Francesco Caruso, for separate talks with the Thai and Cambodian governments.

Mr Caruso has been appointed by Unesco as a special coordinator between Thailand and Cambodia on the issue and is due in Bangkok next month.

Cambodia claims confusion over Thai and UN temple debate

Apr 28, 2008
DPA

Phnom Penh - Cambodia said Monday it was puzzled over UN claims of cancelled joint talks with Thailand over a disputed temple, saying border demarcation and not jurisdiction over a sacred temple was the only topic ever under discussion.

A spokesman for the powerful Cambodian Council of Ministers (CoM) said the dispute over ownership of the ancient Preah Vihear temple was finished after the International Court of Justice ruling on June 1962 that the temple belonged to Cambodia, and no talks were needed.

Although the temple, perched on a cliff overlooking Cambodia, is under the management of the Cambodian government, the easiest access to the site for tourists is via Thailand and it is a sacred site for both sides.

The temple remains a sensitive diplomatic issue, with both sides accused of deploying troops to protect it.

However, Cambodia said no discussions mediated by the UN body had been mooted in past months and the issue was under control without the need of intervention by a third party.

'We received no invitation from the (United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization) about talks, so we do not understand why they said talks are cancelled,' CoM spokesman Phay Siphan said.

'There is no linkage between the demarcation of the border and Preah Vihear temple. The governments agree on that,' he said.

Land and especially sea border demarcation has been under negotiation between Cambodia and Thailand for some time, with potential mineral and oil reserves up for grabs depending on the results.