Thursday, 24 July 2008

UN Security Council undecided about hearing Thai-Cambodia case


BANGKOK, July 24 (TNA) - The United Nations Security Council remains divided on the Thai-Cambodian issue: the US opposes bringing the issue to the Security Council emergency session, while France backed Cambodia's move, and the other members prefer bilateral talks but want the Security Council to hear views from all parties concerned, according to the Thai envoy to UN.

The UN's top mechanism for responding to, or preventing, wars and likely military conflict, the Security Council is the top crisis agency in the international system.

Thai Permanent Representative to the United Nations Don Pramudwinai reported that the Security Council would consider how to address the tense military standoff between Cambodia and Thailand as the two neighbours mass more troops along their border.

The request for the emergency meeting was made by Cambodia after it claimed that Thailand had deployed large numbers of troops along Thai-Cambodian border.

French U.N. Ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert said on Wednesday the 15-nation council ``should meet as fast as possible'' based on Cambodia's request.

The dispute focuses on an area that both nations claim as their own, adjacent to Preah Vihear temple, an ancient Hindu edifice built at the height of the Khmer empire in the 11th century.

The World Court awarded the temple to Cambodia 46 years in 1962, in a decision that Thailand was reluctant to accept. Nevertheless the only practical access for visitors from either country, or from abroad, is through Thailand.

On July 8, the temple was added to the World Heritage List maintained by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Cambodia said earlier that it hoped the UN would help broker a solution to the standoff, which has essentially existed since 1962 when Thailand was essentially forced to accept a decision. Thailand holds that the two sides can resolve the matter without an outside mediator. (TNA)

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