กรุงเทพ--8 ก.ค.--กระทรวงการต่างประเทศ
Statement by H.E. Mr. Noppadon Pattama Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand and Head of the Thai Delegation at the 32nd Session of the World Heritage Committee Quebec City, Canada 7 July 2008
Madame Chairperson,
Distinguished Members of the World Heritage Committee,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is my great honour to lead the Thai delegation to attend the 32nd Session of the World Heritage Committee in this beautiful Quebec City.
With regard to the decision just adopted by the Committee, Thailand wishes to put on record her objection and the following observations and reservations, based on the drawbacks and shortcomings of the various qualifications necessary for the complete status of the World Heritage Site as appeared in the ICOMOS’ evaluations of the cultural properties.
In addition to the unresolved border disputes of the area surrounding the Temple of Preah Vihear, Thailand cannot support the decision. Thailand wishes to point out that the decision is not practical because any subsequent action or measure to be taken by Cambodia or any third party in the area adjacent to the Temple of Preah Vihear which is Thai territory cannot be carried out without Thailand’s consent. As a state party to the 1972 World Heritage Convention, Thailand reaffirms her full rights to apply the article 11 (3) which stipulates that the inclusion of a property situated in a territory, sovereignty or jurisdiction over which is claimed by more than one state will in no way prejudice the rights of the party to the dispute.
Thailand reaffirms her protest and objection to any document submitted by Cambodia for the inscription of the Temple of Preah Vihear as a World Heritage site, particularly the Experts Technical
Report and the flawed Progress Report in which Thailand was not fully engaged and from which was compelled to dissociate herself. Thailand wants to note to the World Heritage Committee that a practical management plan of the Temple of Preah Vihear will not be complete without Thailand’s cooperation.
Thailand regrets that the World Heritage Committee has overlooked the fact that she is a major stakeholder and ignored the possibility for her to nominate the surrounding areas with features pertinent to the outstanding universal value of Preah Vihear Temple as a World Heritage site so that the full values of this property and its landscape setting can be realised. Therefore, Thailand reiterates her intention to nominate other features of the Temple located in her territory for World Heritage status so that the values of this property and its landscape setting can be fully realized. In this connection, we ask the Committee for its favourable consideration of Thailand’s intention.
In short, Thailand is obliged to object the decision to inscribe the Temple of Preah Vihear on the World Heritage list, as unilaterally proposed by Cambodia and on the basis of incomplete integrity.
On behalf of the Thai delegation, I wish to reassure the World Heritage Committee that this inscription issue is but a single issue in the overall relations between Thailand and Cambodia. The Government of Thailand will continue to work closely with the Government of Cambodia to further their cooperation for the mutual benefit of the two countries and peoples.
Madame Chairperson,
Distinguished Members of the World Heritage Committee,
In the end, I wish to reaffirm Thailand’s reservations of her rights as contained in the Note dated 6 July 1962 from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand to the Acting Secretary-General of the United Nations. The inscription of the Temple of Preah Vihear on the World Heritage list shall in no way prejudice Thailand’s rights regarding her territorial integrity and sovereignty as well as the survey and demarcation of land boundary in the area and Thailand’s legal position.
Thank you.
กองการสื่อมวลชน กรมสารนิเทศ กระทรวงการต่างประเทศ โทร. 643-5170 โทรสาร. 643-5169 E-mail : div0704@mfa.go.th--จบ--
-พห-
Statement by H.E. Mr. Noppadon Pattama Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand and Head of the Thai Delegation at the 32nd Session of the World Heritage Committee Quebec City, Canada 7 July 2008
Madame Chairperson,
Distinguished Members of the World Heritage Committee,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is my great honour to lead the Thai delegation to attend the 32nd Session of the World Heritage Committee in this beautiful Quebec City.
With regard to the decision just adopted by the Committee, Thailand wishes to put on record her objection and the following observations and reservations, based on the drawbacks and shortcomings of the various qualifications necessary for the complete status of the World Heritage Site as appeared in the ICOMOS’ evaluations of the cultural properties.
In addition to the unresolved border disputes of the area surrounding the Temple of Preah Vihear, Thailand cannot support the decision. Thailand wishes to point out that the decision is not practical because any subsequent action or measure to be taken by Cambodia or any third party in the area adjacent to the Temple of Preah Vihear which is Thai territory cannot be carried out without Thailand’s consent. As a state party to the 1972 World Heritage Convention, Thailand reaffirms her full rights to apply the article 11 (3) which stipulates that the inclusion of a property situated in a territory, sovereignty or jurisdiction over which is claimed by more than one state will in no way prejudice the rights of the party to the dispute.
Thailand reaffirms her protest and objection to any document submitted by Cambodia for the inscription of the Temple of Preah Vihear as a World Heritage site, particularly the Experts Technical
Report and the flawed Progress Report in which Thailand was not fully engaged and from which was compelled to dissociate herself. Thailand wants to note to the World Heritage Committee that a practical management plan of the Temple of Preah Vihear will not be complete without Thailand’s cooperation.
Thailand regrets that the World Heritage Committee has overlooked the fact that she is a major stakeholder and ignored the possibility for her to nominate the surrounding areas with features pertinent to the outstanding universal value of Preah Vihear Temple as a World Heritage site so that the full values of this property and its landscape setting can be realised. Therefore, Thailand reiterates her intention to nominate other features of the Temple located in her territory for World Heritage status so that the values of this property and its landscape setting can be fully realized. In this connection, we ask the Committee for its favourable consideration of Thailand’s intention.
In short, Thailand is obliged to object the decision to inscribe the Temple of Preah Vihear on the World Heritage list, as unilaterally proposed by Cambodia and on the basis of incomplete integrity.
On behalf of the Thai delegation, I wish to reassure the World Heritage Committee that this inscription issue is but a single issue in the overall relations between Thailand and Cambodia. The Government of Thailand will continue to work closely with the Government of Cambodia to further their cooperation for the mutual benefit of the two countries and peoples.
Madame Chairperson,
Distinguished Members of the World Heritage Committee,
In the end, I wish to reaffirm Thailand’s reservations of her rights as contained in the Note dated 6 July 1962 from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand to the Acting Secretary-General of the United Nations. The inscription of the Temple of Preah Vihear on the World Heritage list shall in no way prejudice Thailand’s rights regarding her territorial integrity and sovereignty as well as the survey and demarcation of land boundary in the area and Thailand’s legal position.
Thank you.
กองการสื่อมวลชน กรมสารนิเทศ กระทรวงการต่างประเทศ โทร. 643-5170 โทรสาร. 643-5169 E-mail : div0704@mfa.go.th--จบ--
-พห-