Thailand prepared to talk with Cambodia over land issue in Paris

BANGKOK, 20 May 2011-Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti (pictured) expressed his readiness in attending a bilateral talk with Cambodia in Paris, adding that the problem began when the Preah Vihear was listed as one of the world’s heritage site. According to Mr. Suwit, the talk will be held from 25-26 May, 2011 with Thailand standing firm on addressing the issue by determining the boundary on the Thai-Cambodian border first before a management plan around the temple is proposed. Mr. Suwit said he would refer to how Cambodia had gone and listed the temple the heritage site without settling the demarcation issue with Thailand first. He said this had entailed a series of gunfights in the past couple of years over the frontier. In addition, he is expected to give a summary on the preparation on 23 May, 2011 after seeing Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. The Natural Resources and Environment Minister further explained that the Cambodian move to list Preah Vihear was unlawful and it failed to recognize the United Nations protocol on world heritage site since the country did not include the management plan around the temple as part of it was still located on the Thai soil. By NNT, The Pattaya Mail