[Thai] PM: UNESCO to postpone consideration on Cambodia's Preah Vihear management plan

BANGKOK, June 25 (MCOT)-- The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural (UNESCO) World Heritage Committee (WHC) was likely to postpone the consideration of Cambodia's Preah Vihear Temple management plan, according to Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva (pictured).

Mr Abhisit said he was informed by Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti, who is leading the Thai delegation at the 35th session of the WHC meeting in Paris, that the meeting would delay consideration of the ancient temple management plan proposed by Cambodia.

Now the wording was being adjusted on the draft of joint resolution by UNESCO World Heritage Centre after both Thai and Cambodian versions failed to win each country's approval.

Words in the draft like "restoration" and "repair" of the temple could cause problems in interpretation, Suwit said earlier.

The adjustment was aimed at making the joint resolution more fair for the two countries, so no nation would be at a disadvantage, said Abhisit.

The Thai premier said that all parties had to respect the WHC's resolution.

Mr Abhsit said that the temple management plan should not lead to any problems between Thailand and Cambodia.

The WHC's resolution should also help ease tensions between the two neighbouring countries, he said.

Thailand earlier threatened to resign from membership of the WHC if the joint resolution draft regarding the temple management plan was submitted to the consideration of the WHC, as it would put Thailand at risk of losing territory.

Both Bangkok and Phnom Penh earlier submitted their own versions of the draft agreement.

However, the two countries still disagreed on many points, despite having been allowed to adjust their drafts four times each in the past two days.

Thailand insists the WHC should delay consideration of the management plan until border demarcation work is complete. (MCOT online news)