Thailand and Cambodia will enter into talks with UNESCO to discuss the matter of co-registering the border temple of Preah Vihear.

Talks called on Preah Vihear site
Bangkok Post, 25 April 2008

Talks called on Preah Vihear site

THANIDA TANSUBHAPOL

Thailand will meet Cambodia in Paris at the invitation of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) to tackle the dispute over registration of the Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage Site. Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama will take a delegation to the meeting in Paris on May 2-3, said a Foreign Ministry official.

Unesco wants the two sides to talk about Cambodia’s proposal to register Preah Vihear temple _ ancient ruins on the border between the two countries. Unesco is about to consider the request.

”Thailand is ready to negotiate with the Cambodian side about the process,” the official said.

Bangkok says it is not opposed to the registration of the temple by the Phnom Penh government, but it must not affect the disputed borderline.

The Foreign Ministry this month registered a protest after Cambodia sent its troops to the disputed area around Preah Vihear.

Thailand said it violated the 2000 memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two countries over Preah Vihear.

Under the MoU, both countries agreed not to do anything to change the area.