STATEMENT: Rejects the accusation of Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya published in the Nation and the ASTV Manager Online, respectively, on 14 February 2011, that Cambodia initiated the recent fighting near the Temple of Preah Vihear, and that the Temple was used as a base for the launching of attacks.

STATEMENT

The Press and Quick Reaction Unit of the Office of the Council of Ministers rejects the accusation of Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya published in the Nation and the ASTV Manager Online, respectively, on 14 February 2011, that Cambodia initiated the recent fighting near the Temple of Preah Vihear, and that the Temple was used as a base for the launching of attacks.

The Thai Prime Minister’s accusation defies logic and common sense. Cambodia has not sought to change the situation on the border, which has been internationally recognised for a century, and particularly since the International Court of Justice’s ruling of 1962. It is Thailand that has sought to change this reality; lacking any legal basis for such a change, it has now sought to create one by a military means.

Furthermore, Cambodia lacks the means to challenge Thailand militarily. Cambodia’s population is less than one-fourth of Thailand’s. Its GDP is about one-twentieth compared to Thai's GDP. Cambodia’s armed forces number about one-eighth of Thailand’s, and the latter are well-equipped with sophisticated weaponry, including modern air and navy forces, which Thailand has openly threatened to use against Cambodia.

In regard to the fighting on the border, it is the Thai Government that has sought to keep international public opinion in the dark. The Thai Prime Minister has also sought to prevent any neutral observers, and has even attempted to prevent a UNESCO delegation visiting the Temple of Preah Vihear to assess the damage caused by the Thai military. The Thai Government thus seeks to close the door to hide its past and ongoing aggression.

Cambodia highly appreciates the efforts of the United Nations Security Council to prevent new fighting, to prevent further civilian casualties and to protect the World Heritage Site in Cambodia, the Temple of Preah Vihear.

In supporting the ASEAN to mediate, the United Nations Security Council has put an end to the Thai Government’s policy of closing the door to the regional and international community, aiming at using the military strength to satisfy their long-planned territorial ambition. As the Thai Government well knows, bilateral discussions have led to nowhere, but to serve the Thai government’s intention of beating Cambodia behind the scene. While bilateral meeting between the two countries’ foreign ministers was taking place in Siem Reap on 4 February 2011, the Thai army was also attacking Cambodia.

Cambodia welcomes the United Nations Security Council’s support for the ASEAN’s active mediation efforts to set up a mechanism, which can help prevent new attacks by Thailand. Furthermore, this ASEAN mechanism can create a transparent situation and build a mutual confidence; particularly to ensure the cessation of hostilities, should they occur, this ASEAN mechanism could identify the provocateur, and to witness whether Cambodia has military base capable of launching an alleged attack on Thailand. The mechanism should then be possible to proceed to a timely, peaceful and permanent resolution.

Phnom Penh, 15 February 2011

Press and Quick Reaction Unit

សម្តេចតេជោបើកការដ្ឋានសាងសង់ផ្លូវជាតិលេខ ៥៩ ដែលជាផ្លូវយុទ្ធសាស្ត្រភ្ជាប់​ខេត្ត​ បន្ទាយមានជ័យ​,​បាត់ដំបង និង​ប៉ៃលិន តាម​បណ្តោយ​ព្រំដែន​កម្ពុជា-ថៃ​

នាព្រឹក​​ថ្ងៃ​ទី​១៥ ខែកុម្ភៈ ឆ្នាំ ២០១១ នៅ​​ភូមិ​កូនដំរី សង្កាត់​និមិត្ត ក្រុង​ប៉ោយប៉ែត​ សម្តេច​អគ្គ​មហា​សេនា​​បតីតេជោ ហ៊ុន សែន បានអញ្ជើញ​ចូលរួម​​ជាអធិបតីក្នុងពិធីបើកការដ្ឋានសាងសង់ផ្លូវជាតិលេខ ៥៩ ដែល​ជាផ្លូវយុទ្ធសាស្ត្រដ៏មានសារៈសំខាន់​សម្រាប់​​ធ្វើ​ចរាចរសេដ្ឋកិច្ច និងការពារ​​​បូរណភាពទឹក​ដីរបស់​កម្ពុជា​​នោះ។

វត្តមានរបស់សម្តេចនាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​ នៅ​ក្បែរ​ព្រំ​ដែន​ កម្ពុជា-ថៃ​ បានជួយ​លើកទឹកចិត្តដល់​​​ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ​​ខ្មែរទូទៅព្រោះថា វា​មិន​មែនត្រឹមតែបានបង្ហាញនូវភាពអង់អាចក្លាហានប៉ុណ្ណោះទេ ប៉ុន្តែ​វា​បាន​ក្លាយ​ទៅ​ជាគំរូក្នុងភាពជា​“អ្នកដឹកនាំ” របស់សម្តេច​នៅ​ពេលដែល​សភាពការណ៍​ព្រំដែន​នៅតាន​តឹង​នៅ​ឡើយ បន្ទាប់ពីសង្គ្រាម​ឈ្លាន​ពាន​របស់​ថៃមកលើកម្ពុជាបានចាប់ផ្តើមជាថ្មីកាល​ពីថ្ងៃទី ០៤ កុម្ភៈ រហូត​មក​ដល់​ថ្ងៃទី ០៧ កុម្ភៈ ដែល​បង្ក​ឱ្យ​យុទ្ធជន និងប្រជាពលរដ្ឋកម្ពុជាស្លាប់ចំនួន ៥ នាក់ របួស ៤៥ នាក់​ខូចខាត​ប្រាសាទព្រះវិហារជាទីសក្ការៈ និង ទ្រព្យសម្បត្តិ​មួយចំនួនទៀត។

នៅ​ក្នុងសង្កថា សម្តេចតេជោបានផ្តាំផ្ញើតាមរយៈឯកឧត្តម ផាន គ័ងស៊ា ឯកអគ្គរដ្ឋទូតសាធារណរដ្ឋ ប្រជាមានិតចិន ប្រចាំនៅកម្ពុជាជូនចំពោះប្រជាជននិងរដ្ឋាភិបាលចិន ដែលជាម្ចាស់​​ហិរញ្ញប្បទាន​សម្រាប់​ការ​​អភិវឌ្ឍប្រទេសកម្ពុជាលើគ្រប់វិស័យ និងបានកត់សម្គាល់ថា “រដ្ឋាភិបាលនិង ប្រជាជនចិន ជាមិត្ត​​ជិត​ស្និទ្ធ​​ជាប្រវត្តិ សាស្ត្រ”ផងដែរ ។ សម្តេចតេជោ​នាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រីមានប្រសាសន៍ថា ជារួមប្រទេស​ចិនតែង​បាន​គិត​គូរ​ដល់ការជួយកម្ពុជា​ លើវិស័យអាទិភាពរបស់រាជរដ្ឋាភិបាលគឺលើ ទឹក ភ្លើង ផ្លូវ និងមនុស្ស​ដោយ​​បាន​ផ្តល់​នូវការឧបត្ថម្ភគាំទ្រជាបន្តបន្ទាប់ហើយបានជួយដល់កិច្ចការពារ សន្តិភាព អធិបតេយ្យ​ភាព​ របស់​ប្រទេស​ជាតិកម្ពុជា​ និងពង្រីកដល់កិច្ចសហប្រតិបត្តិការជាមួយប្រទេស ជិតខាងទៀតផង។

សម្តេច​តេជោ​បាន​គូស​បញ្ជាក់​ថា មិត្តចិនជាប្រទេសដែលបានជួយកម្ពុជា​ទាំងការធ្វើ​សមាហរណ​កម្ម​​ផ្ទៃ​ក្នុងផង និងធ្វើ​សមាហរណ​កម្ម​ជាមួយបណ្តាប្រទេស ជិតខាងផងដែរ។

សម្តេចតេជោនាយករដ្ឋមន្រ្តី​ មានប្រសាសន៍ថា បន្ទាប់ពីសាងសង់រួច ផ្លូវជាតិ​នេះប្រាកដជា​នឹង​ក្លាយ​​ទៅ​ជា​ផ្លូវ យុទ្ធសាស្ត្រដ៏សំខាន់ និងរឹងមាំបំផុតពីព្រោះតែផ្លូវជាតិនេះ គឺជាផ្លូវជាតិទី ១ ដែល​លាត​សន្ធឹង​យ៉ាងវែងតាមបណ្តោយព្រំដែនកម្ពុជា-ថៃ សសៀរតាមរបៀងខាងលិចខេត្ត​បន្ទាយមាន​ជ័យ​​ ខេត្ត​បាត់ដំបង​ឆ្ពោះ ទៅទីរួមខេត្តប៉ៃលិន ។ លក្ខណៈ សំខាន់មួយទៀត​គឺផ្លូវនេះត្រូវ​តភ្ជាប់ទៅ​នឹងផ្លូវ​ជាតិលេខ ៥៨ បេ ត្រង់សំពៅលូនខេត្តបាត់ដំបង និងតភ្ជាប់ទៅថ្មគោល- បវេល-ភ្នំព្រឹក-កំរៀងនោះ។ សម្តេច​តេជោ​ថ្លែង​ថា ការតភ្ជាប់ប្រទាក់ក្រឡានេះ អាចនឹងផ្តល់​លទ្ធភាពងាយ​ស្រួលជាច្រើន​ជម្រើស សម្រាប់​ការ​ចរាចរ​ដឹក​​ជញ្ជូនទៅកាន់ទីរួមខេត្តបាត់ដំបង និងបន្តទៅទីរួមខេត្តប៉ៃលិន និង អាចបន្តតាម ផ្លូវ​ជាតិ​លេខ ៥៧ ដែល​​សាងសង់បាន ៩៥%ដោយឥណទានរបស់រដ្ឋាភិបាលចិនដែរនោះ​ឆ្ពោះ​​ទៅ​កាន់​ព្រំដែន​កម្ពុជា-ថៃ​ត្រង់​ច្រកផ្សារព្រំ។

ឯកឧត្តម ត្រាំ អ៊ីវតឹក រដ្ឋមន្ត្រីក្រសួងសាធារណការ និង ដឹកជញ្ជូនថ្លែងថាផ្លូវជាតិលេខ ៥៩ នេះ​គ្រោង​ចំណាយថវិកាសរុបប្រមាណ ៧២ លាន ៨៨៨ ដុល្លារអាមេរិក ដែលជាកំចីឥណទានសម្បទាន ពីរដ្ឋាភិបាលសាធារណរដ្ឋប្រជាមានិតចិនរួមជាមួយថវិកាបដិភាគរបស់រាជរដ្ឋាភិបាល​កម្ពុជា ដែលប្រើ រយៈ​ពេលសាងសង់ចំនួន ៣៦ខែនឹងគ្រោង បញ្ចប់នៅខែមីនាឆ្នាំ ២០១៥ ។

ឯកឧត្តម ផាន គ័ងស៊ា ឯកអគ្គរដ្ឋទូត​នៃ​សាធារណរដ្ឋ​ប្រជាមានិតចិន ​បានមានប្រសាសន៍ថា ប្រទេស​ចិនជាអ្នកជិតខាងល្អ ។ មិត្តភាព​ជាប្រពៃណី​រវាង​ចិន និង​កម្ពុជា​បាន​ដក់​ជាប់​នៅ​ក្នុង​ចិត្ត​របស់​ប្រជាជន​​យើងទាំងពីរហើយក្នុងកាលៈទេសៈថ្មីៗនេះ ប្រជាជន​យើង​ទាំង ពីរត្រូវរួមដៃជា មួយ​គ្នា​ដើម្បី​ពង្រឹក​មិត្តភាព​ និងពង្រីកសហប្រតិបត្តិការលើគ្រប់វិស័យ ។

ឯកឧត្តម ផាន គ័ងស៊ា មានប្រសាសន៍ឲ្យដឹងថា គម្រោងទាំងឡាយដែលរួមមាន ការបើក​ការដ្ឋាន​សាង​សង់​កំពង់ ផែថ្មី ការបើកការដ្ឋាន​សាងសង់​ស្ពាន​ជ្រោយ​ចង្វារថ្មី​ក៏ដូច​ជាស្ពាន​ឆ្លងកាត់​ទន្លេបាសាក់ នៅ​​តាខ្មៅ នៅពេលឆាប់ៗ​ខាងមុខ​នេះគឺជាការចាប់ផ្តើមសារជាថ្មី​នឹងក្នុងកម្រិត​ខ្ពស់នៃ​កិច្ច​សហប្រតិបត្តិការ សេដ្ឋ​កិច្ច និង ពាណិជ្ជកម្មរវាងប្រទេសទាំងពីរដែលប្រទេស ចិននឹងរួម​វិភាគទាន​យ៉ាង​ធំធេង ចំពោះការ កសាង​ហេដ្ឋារចនាសម័ន្ធនិងការអភិវឌ្ឍ​សេដ្ឋកិច្ចរបស់ប្រទេសកម្ពុជា។

ឯកឧត្តម​ឯកអគ្គរដ្ឋ​ទូតមានប្រសាសន៍តាមរយៈអ្នកបកប្រែភាសាថា រដ្ឋាភិបាលចិន​គាំទ្រ​រាជរដ្ឋាភិបាល​​​កម្ពុជានៅក្នុង​ការប្រឹងប្រែងកាត់បន្ថយភាពក្រីក្រ ការអភិវឌ្ឍសេដ្ឋកិច្ច ហើយ​ប្រទេសចិន​រីករាយ​​ដែលឃើញ ប្រទេសកម្ពុជាប្រកបដោយសន្តិភាព ស្ថិរភាពនិងមានការអភិវឌ្ឍ។​ប្រទេស​ចិន​ស្ម័គ្រ​ចិត្ត​ផ្តល់ជំនួយ​ដល់​កម្ពុជា​ទៅតាមលទ្ធភាពដែលខ្លួនមាន ។

សូមបញ្ជាក់ថា ផ្លូវជាតិលេខ ៥៩ មានប្រវែង ១៤៤,២៧ គ,ម តភ្ជាប់​ពីទី​ប្រជុំជន​ស្រុក​កំរៀង​ស្រុក​ភ្នំព្រឹក និង ស្រុកម៉ាឡៃ ទៅព្រំប្រទល់ថៃដែលមានប្រវែង ៤,២គម ដែល​ចំណុច​ចាប់ផ្តើម​គម្រោង​នេះស្ថិត​នៅ​ត្រង់គីឡូម៉ែត្រលេខ ៣៩៣ បំបែកពីផ្លូវជាតិលេខ ៥ ត្រង់ភូមិកូនដំរី សង្កាត់និមិត្ត ក្រុង​ប៉ោយ​ប៉ែត​ខេត្ត​បន្ទាយមានជ័យ ហើយ ដែលចំណុចបញ្ចប់ស្ថិតនៅ ត្រង់គីឡម៉ែត្រលេខ ៩០ផ្លូវជាតិលេខ ៥៧ ត្រង់​ភូមិ​ភ្នំកុយ ឃុំស្ទឹងកាច់ ស្រុក​សាលា​ក្រៅ ខេត្តប៉ែលិនដែលស្ថិតនៅ ឆ្ងាយពីក្រុងប៉ៃលិនប្រមាណ ២៥០០ ម៉ែត្រ ។​មកដល់​ពេល​នេះ លើ​ការស្តារ និងអភិវឌ្ឍផ្លូវស្ពានរបស់កម្ពុជាដែលសាងសង់ដោយឥណទាននិង បែប​​ហិរញ្ញប្បទាន បានចប់សព្វ​គ្រប់​របស់ប្រទេសចិនមានប្រវែងប្រមាណជាង ១៥០០គ,ម ស្មើ​នឹង​ប្រមាណ​ ២/៣ នៃប្រវែងផ្លូវជាតិ ដែល​បាន និងកំពុងស្ថាបនានៅទូទាំងប្រទេសនោះ។

បទសម្ភាសន៍ ​លោក​បណ្ឌិត ឈឹម ផលវរុណ ស្តីពីសង្គ្រាមឈ្លានពានរបស់សៀម មកលើព្រះរាជាណាចក្រកម្ពុជា ​ ​ ថ្ងៃទី​១៤ ខែ​កុម្ភៈ​ ឆ្នាំ​២០១១

បទសម្ភាសន៍ ​លោក​បណ្ឌិត ឈឹម ផលវរុណ ស្តីពីសង្គ្រាមឈ្លានពានរបស់សៀម មកលើព្រះរាជាណាចក្រកម្ពុជា ​ ​ ថ្ងៃទី​១៤ ខែ​កុម្ភៈ​ ឆ្នាំ​២០១១

លោក សត្យារក្ស

សំនួរ ៖​ ​សម្តេច​អគ្គមហាសេនាបតីតេជោ ហ៊ុន សែន បាន​ស្នើរ​ទៅ​ក្រុម​ប្រឹក្សា​សន្តិសុ​ខ​ អ.ស.ប ឲ្យ​កោះ​ប្រជុំ​ជា​បន្ទាន់​ ដើម្បី​ជួយ​ដោះ​ស្រាយ​ពី​បញ្ហា​សង្គ្រាម​ឈ្លាន​ពាន​ដែល​បង្កឡើង​ដោយ​ចោរ​សៀម​ បន្តែ​អ្នក​នយោ​បាយ​ប្រឆាំង​នៅ​កម្ពុជា​បាន​ចោទ​ប្រកាន់​ថា ចំណាត់​ការ​របស់​រាជរដ្ឋាភិបាល​គឺ​ជា​ការ​យឺត​យាវ​​។ ដូច្នេះ​ជុំ​វិញការ​ចោទប្រកាន់​នេះ​ តើ​លោក​បណ្ឌិត​មាន​អ្វី​ពន្យល់​ដល់​ជន​រួម​ជាតិ?

លោកបណ្ឌិត​ ឈឹម ផលវរុណ

ចម្លើយ៖ ជា​ដំបូង​មុន​នឹង​ចូល​ដល់​ប្រធាន​បទ​នេះ​ ខ្ញុំ​សូម​ទាញ​ចំណាប់​អារម្មណ៍​ប្រជា​ពលរដ្ឋ​ឲ្យ​យល់​ ដើម្បី​ទប់​ស្កាត់​នូវ​ឧបាយ​កល​ទុច្ចរិត​របស់​រដ្ឋាភិបាល​ក្រុង​បាង​កក​ ដែល​មាន​ក្រុម​ជ្រល​និយម​អាវ​លឿង​រួម​គ្នា​ជាមួយ​រដ្ឋាភិបាល​ និង​ក្រុម​សក្តិភូមិ​ថៃ​ គឺ​មាន​គំនិត​ធ្វើ​សង្រ្គាម​ឈ្លាន​ពាន​មក​លលើ​ព្រះរាជាណាចក្រ​កម្ពុជា​​។​

-នៅ​ពេល​ដែល​មាន​សង្គ្រាម​ឈ្លាន​ពាន​បែប​នេះ​ប្រជា​ពលរដ្ឋ​ត្រូ​វ​រួម​គ្នា​ជា​ធ្លុង​មួយ​ ជាមួយ​រាជរដ្ឋាភិបាល​ក្នុង​ការ​ប្រឆាំង​នឹង​អំពើ​ឈ្លាន​ពាន​នេះ ដើម្បី​កុំ​ឲ្យ​មាន​ការ​ភ័ន្តច្រឡំ​ និង​ជា​ពិសេស​កុំ​ឲ្យ​គណបក្ស​ប្រឆាំង​ខ្មែ​​រ​មិន​យល់​ចេះ​តែ​ចោទ​ប្រកាន់​មកលើ​ចំណាត់​ការ​របស់​រាជរដ្ឋាភិបាល​។​ តាម​ពិត​ពួក​គណបក្ស​ប្រឆាំង​គ្មាន​គំនិត​ប្រាកដ​និយម​ក្នុង​ការ​ចោទ​ប្រកាន់​​​ជាមួយ​និង​​ ពួក​រដ្ឋាភិបាល​សៀម​ឈ្លាន​ពាន​នោះ​ទេ​ ពួកគេ​គ្រាន់​តែ​គាំទ្រ​នូវ​សារលិខិត​របស់​ប្រមុខ​រដ្ឋាភិបាល​ដែល​បាន​ផ្ញើរ​ទៅ​ក្រុម​ប្រឹក្សាសន្តិសុខ​ អ.ស.ប តែ​ប៉ុណ្ណោះ​ តាម​ពិត​ពួក​គេ​មិន​ហាន​ថ្កោល​ទោស​នាយករដ្ឋមន្រ្តី​អាប់ភីស៊ីត​នៅ​ឡើយ​ទេ​។​

លោក សត្យារក្ស

សំណួរ៖ ​តើការ​កោះ​ប្រជុំ​របស់​ក្រុម​ប្រឹក្សា​សន្តិសុខ​ អ.ស.ប ពេល​នេះ​វា​ជា​ទម្ងន់​គាបសង្កាត់​ទៅ​លើ​រដ្ឋាភិបាល​សៀម​បែ​ប​ណា​ដែរ​ទៅ​?

លោកបណ្ឌិត ឈឹម ផលវរុណ

ចម្លើយ៖ ​នេះ​ជា​ចំណុច​សំខាន់​ ដែល​ល​បង​ប្អូន​ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ​ត្រូវ​តែ​ធ្វើ​ការ​តាម​ដាន​បន្ត​។​ ថ្ងៃ​នេះ​គឺ​ជាការ​កោះ​ប្រជុំ​បន្ទាន់​របស់​ អ.ស.ប​ ពាក់​ព័ន្ធ​ទៅ​នឹ​​ការ​ឈ្លាន​ពាន​របស់​ថៃ​ តាម​សំណើ​របស់​ប្រមុខ​រដ្ឋាភិបាល​កម្ពុជា។​ ខ្លឹម​សារ​នៃ​ការ​ស្នើ​សុំ​កោះ​ប្រជុំ​នេះ​មិន​មែន​មាន​ន័យ​ថា​ យើង​ទៅ​ពឹង​ពាក់​បរទេស​ ឬ​ អ.ស.ប ឲ្យ​មក​ដោះ​ស្រាយ​វិវាទ​បញ្ហាព្រំដែន​កម្ពុជា​ថៃ​នោះ​ទេ​ និង​មិនមែន​ស្នើ​សុំ​ ក្រុមប្រឹក្សាសន្តិសុខ អ.ស.ប ​ឲ្យ​មក​សម្រប​សម្រួល​ទំនាស់​រវាង​កម្ពុជា​ថៃ​នោះ​ទេ​។ ការ​ស្នើ​សុំ​នេះ​គឺ​ដើម្បី​ឲ្យ​អង្គការ​នេះ​មក​រក្សា​សន្តិសុខ​ និង​សន្តិភាព​នៅ​ក្នុង​តំបន់​ ក៏ដូច​ជា​នៅ​ក្នុង​ពិភពលោក​ទាំងមូល​។​ ចំណុច​នេះ​គឺ​សំដៅ​ ដើម្បី​ទប់​ស្កាត់​នូវ​សង្គ្រាម​ឈ្លាន​ពាន​របស់​ថៃ​មក​លើ​កម្ពុជា។​ បញ្ហា​ព្រំ​ដែន​របស់​កម្ពុជា-ថៃ​​ គឺ​ត្រូវ​បាន​កំណត់​​ច្បាស់​លាស់​នៅលើ​ផែនទី​ដែល​បាន​គូស​ដោយ​​​យោង​លើ​សន្ធិសញ្ញា​បារាំង​-សៀម១៩០៤ -១៩០៧ -​១៩០៨ ជា​បន្ត​បន្ទាប់​។ ហើយ​ថ្មីៗ​នេះ​ប្រទេស​បារាំង​​ក៏​បាន​ត្រៀម​ខ្លួន​ដើម្បី​ផ្តល់​នុវ​ឯកសារ​ទាំង​នេះ​ដើម្បី​ជា​ភស្តុតាង​​បង្ហាញ​ ដល់​ក្រុម​ប្រឹក្សាសន្តិសុខ អ.ស.ប​ ផង​ដែរ​។​ ម្យ៉ាង​ទៀត​នៅ​លើ​ទិដ្ឋភាព​ជាក់​ស្តែង​ គឺ​នៅ​លើ​ទឹក​ដី​ក៏​គ្មាន​បញ្ហាណា​ដែល​ពាក់​ព័ន្ធ​ដូច​ថៃ​ ដែល​បាន​ចោទ​ប្រកាន់​ថា មាន​តំបន់​ ៤.៦ គម^២នោះដែរ ពី​ព្រោះ​យើង​មាន​សាលដីកា​កាត់​ក្តី​ដោយ​តុលាការ​យុត្តិ​ធម៌​អន្តរជាតិ​ទី​ក្រុង​ឡាអេ​ សន្ធិសញ្ញា​ និង​អនុសញ្ញា​បារាំង​-សៀម​ បាន​កំណត់​រួច​ទៅ​ហើយ​ ។​ ​

-​សង្គ្រាម​ឈ្លាន​ពាន​ដែល​បង្ក​ឡើង​ដោយ​ទាហ៊ាន​សៀម​ ដែល​មាន​បញ្ជា​ពី​រដ្ឋាភិបាល​ក្រុង​បាង​កក​ និង​​ក្រុម​សក្តិភូមិ​ ​ពេល​នេះ​គឺ​មាន​ភស្តុតាង​ជាក់​ស្តែង​​​ក្នុង​ការ​លុក​លុយ​ចូល​ទឹក​ដី​កម្ពុជា​ ព្រម​ទាំង​បាញ់​គ្រាប់​ផ្លោង​ដើម្បី​បំផ្លាញ​​នូវ​សម្បត្តិ​បេតិកភណ្ឌពិភពលោក គឺ​ប្រាសាទ​ព្រះវិហារ​នេះ​ឯង​។​ ការ​បំផ្លិច​បំផ្លាញ​វត្ត​កែវ​សិក្ខាគីរីស្វារៈ​​ ក៏​ជា​ការ​រំលោភ​បំពាន​នូវ​ធម្មនុញ្ញ​របស់ អ.ស.ប​ ផងដែរ​។​ បន្ថែម​លើ​នេះ​ទៀត​ទាហ៊ាន​ថៃ​បាន​​ប្រើ​ប្រាស់​នូវ​អាវុធ​ ដែល​ត្រូវ​គេ​ហាម​ឃាត់​នៅ​ក្នុង​សង្រ្គាម​ ដូច​ជា​គ្រាប់​បែក​ចង្កោម​ និង​អាវុធ​គីមី​ ដែល​ត្រូវ​បាន​រក​ឃើញ​ដោយ​ស្ថាប័ន​ CMAC ។​ សារជាតិ​ទុច្ចរិត​ប្រឆាំង​និង​ច្បាប់​អន្តរជាតិ​នេះ​ហើយ​ ដែល​ជា​ភស្តុតាង​ក្នុង​ការ​ជជែក​នៅ​ក្នុង​កិច្ច​ប្រជុំ​របស់​ក្រុមប្រឹក្សាសន្តិសុខ អ.ស.ប​ នាពេល​នេះ​។​

លោក សត្យារក្ស

សំណួរ៖ ​ប្រសិនបើ​ក្រុម​ប្រឹក្សាសន្តិសុខ​ អ.ស.ប​ រក​ឃើញ​ថា​ប្រទេស​សៀម​ធ្វើ​សង្គ្រាម​​ឈ្លាន​ពាន​​ និង​ប្រើប្រាស់​នូវ​អាវុធ​ហាម​ឃាត់​ដោយ​​ធម្មនុញ្ញ​ អ.ស.ប​ ពិត​មែន​តើ​ក្រុម​ប្រឹក្សា​នេះ​មាន​សិទ្ធិ​ផ្តន្ទា​ទោស​​ដល់​ប្រទេស​នោះ​ដែរ​ឬទេ​?

លោកបណ្ឌិត ឈឹម ផលវរុណ

ចម្លើយ៖ ​កម្មវត្ថុ​ស្នូល​នៃ​លិខិត​របស់​រាជរដ្ឋាភិបាល​កម្ពុជា​ក្នុង​ការ​ប្តឹង​ទៅ​ អ.ស.ប​ នេះ​គឺ​ជា​បង្ហាញ​អំពី​ភស្តុតាង​ទាំង​ឡាយ​ ដែល​ទាហ៊ាន​សៀម​ និង​រដ្ឋាភិបាល​អាប់ភីស៊ីត​ បាន​ប្រើ​នៅ​ក្នុង​ការ​ធ្វើ​សង្គ្រាម​ឈ្លាន​ពាន​មក​លើ​កម្ពុជា​​​។​ ចំណុច​នេះ​គឺ​ដើម្បី​ឲ្យ​អង្គប្រជុំ​ពិនិត្យ​ និង​ធ្វើ​ចំណាត់​ការ​ក្នុង​ការ​ដាក់​ទណ្ឌកម្ម​ និង​​​ចោទ​ប្រកាន់​ពី​បទ​ឧក្រិដ្ឋកម្ម​សង្គ្រាម​ ដោយ​សារ​ការ​ប្រើ​ប្រាស់​នូវ​គ្រាប់បែក​ចង្កោម​ និង​អាវុធគីមី​ដែល​លោក​ហាមឃាត់​។

លោក សត្យារក្ស

សំណួរ៖ ថ្មីៗ​នេះ​រដ្ឋាភិបាល​សៀម​បាន​គំរាម​កំហែង​បេសកជន​របស់​អង្គការ​យូណេស្កូ ​ដោយ​មិន​ឲ្យ​មក​ពិនិត្យ​មើល​នូវ​ការ​ខូច​ខាត​របស់​ប្រាសាទព្រះវិហារ​ ដែល​បំផ្លិច​បំផ្លាញ​ដោយ​ទាហ៊ាន​សៀម​។​ ចំណុច​នេះ​តើ​សៀម​អាច​ហាម​ឃាត់​សមត្ថកិច្ច​របស់​អង្គការ​យូណេស្កូ​កំរិត​ណា​ដែរ​?

​លោកបណ្ឌិត ឈឹម ផលវរុណ

ចម្លើយ៖ ​ភាព​ក្រ​អើត​ក្រទមរបស់​រដ្ឋាភិបាល​ក្រុង​បាង​កក​មក​លើ​អង្គការ​ យូណេស្កូ ​បែប​នេះ​បង្ហាញ​អំពី​ចរិត​ទុច្ចរិត​ និង​ល្បិច​កល​របស់​ថៃ​ ក្នុង​ការ​​បំពាន​ និង​បំផ្លិច​បំផ្លាញ​នូវ​សម្បត្តិ​ធម៌​របស់​មនុស្ស​ជាតិ​ទាំង​មូល​​។ ជាក់​ស្តែង​ការ​បាញ់​ផ្លោង​ដើម្បី​កំទេច​ប្រាសាទ​ និង​ទី​វត្ត​អារាម​បញ្ជាក់​អំពី​ភាព​គ្មាន​ការ​ទទួល​ខុស​ត្រូវ​ក្នុង​ការ​ថែរក្សា​ និង​អភិរក្ស​សម្បត្តិ​បេតិភណ្ឌ​ពីភពលោក​។ ​

លោក សត្យារក្ស

សំណួរ៖​​ អគ្គនាយកដ្ឋាន​វិទ្យុ និង​ទូរទស្សន៍​បាយ័ន​ បាន​បង្កើត​ជា​មូល​និធិ​មួយ​ ដើម្បី​ឲ្យ​មាន​ការ​ចូល​រួម​ពី​ប្រជា​ជន​​ ក្នុង​ការ​ជួយ​ឧបត្ថម្ភ​ដល់​យុទ្ធ​ជន​ក្នុង​សមរភូមិ​មុខ ចំណុច​នេះ​បង្ហាញ​​យ៉ាង​ណា​ដែរ​អំពី​​ទស្សនៈជាតិ និង​ទឹក​ចិត្ត​របស់​ប្រជា​ពលរដ្ឋ​យើងក្នុង​សម័យ​តេជោ​​នា​ពេល​នេះ​?

លោកបណ្ឌិត ឈឹម ផលវរុណ

ចម្លើយ៖​ ​ត្រង់​ចំណុច​នេះ​បង្ហាញថា កម្ពុជា​កំពុង​តែ​ឈរ​នៅ​លើ​​ការ​ឯកភាព​ជាតិ​មួ​យ​​ដ៏រឹង​មាំ​ ដោយ​ប្រជាជាតិ​ខ្មែរ​ទាំង​មូល​មាន​សំលេង​តែ​មួយ​ក្នុង​ការ​គាំទ្រ​ប្រមុខ​រាជរដ្ឋាភិបាល​។​ ការ​ចូលរួម​យ៉ាង​គគ្រឹក​គគ្រេង​​​ដោយ​ទឹក​ចិត្ត​ស្មោះ​សរ​គ្រប់​ស្រទាប​វណ្ណៈ​ក្នុង​សង្គម​ចំពោះ​មូលនិធិ​បាយ័ន​ ក៏ដូច​ជា​ទូរទស្សន៍​ CTN ​ដែល​ក្នុងនោះ​មាន​តំាង​ពី​កុមារា កុមារី​​ ក៏​ចូលរួម​ផង​ដែរ​។ ​

សម្រង់​ព័ត៌មានៈ លោក នូ សាវុធឌី​​

Editorial: Thai Claims Outrageous

Thailand claimed that Cambodia attacked first when hostilities broke out 10 days ago at the Preah Vihear temple region.

Thailand also claimed, via its premier, that Cambodia positioned troops at the world heritage of Preah Vihear.

Facts or fiction?

Thailand’s GDP (Purchasing Power Parity) for 2010 at constant prices was estimated at $580.3 billion USD.  The population of Thailand in 2010 was estimated at 67,764 million. Land mass of 513,120 sq km. And armed forces, including paramilitary, as of 2008 at 665,000, including modern main battle tanks, F 16 fighter jets, and attack helicopters as well as naval units.

Cambodia’s GDP (Purchasing Power Parity was USD29.5 billion. Cambodia had 14 million people. Land area: 181,035 sq kms and armed forces of approximately 100,000, a virtually non existent air force and naval units.

Given the above,  would anyone of a sane and rational mind ever belief what Thai premier Abihisit alleged – that Cambodia attacked Thai military and civilian units across the tenacious border of Preah Vihear over four consecutive days  early February?

Is this logical for Cambodia to actually mount an offensive against Thailand as claimed and foolishly alleged by Thailand? Cambodia is a vastly smaller neighbor, struggling to build its economy, build infrastructure and bring basic amenities to her people.

On the contrary, it would be outrageous, ridiculous and even outright stupid for Cambodia to launch any offensive against Thailand in the battle field as it is outnumbered in every single aspect of the armed forces – from the military to the air force, to the navy and to the paramilitary and even the civilian police force.

In the absence of an air force, attack helicopters, modern main battle tanks, inadequate supply base and nightmarish logistics, no one ever believe Cambodia is capable of mounting any form of attack against Thailand.   

Cambodia, which emerged from three decades of civil war 1970- 1998 during which her infrastructures were devastated and tens of thousands of people were killed, is tired of fighting.

It is clear and evident that Thai Premier Abhisit, fearing an international public relations nightmare and a highly likely scenario of being sanctioned by the UNSC, ASEAN, UNESCO and other international institutions, has embarked on a much maligned public relations  campaign to say that the victim has been the aggressor.  The above facts speak volumes of this, including Thai threat to unleash its mighty air force on Cambodia if Cambodia did not withdraw from its own territory!

Surely the international community and ASEAN are matured enough and have within them, the capability of rational thinking based on the facts on the grounds to judge or conclude who is the aggressor and who is the victim!

Furthermore Abihisit also alleged that Cambodia used the world heritage of Preah Vihear to house troops and launch attacks on Thai territory. This is another outrageous lie and false propaganda designed to pull wool over the international community’s eyes and   reasoning.

Cambodia has to defense the vicinity of Preah Vihear Temple given the fact that Thai has tried on several occasions by military means to occupy the Temple’s surrounding area, which is under the Cambodia’s territory.

This is the opening Thailand is seeking, yearning and even prepared to die for.  Thailand wants to walk into the Preah Vihear temple unopposed, unchallenged and plant its flag on sovereign Cambodian soil. Thailand intended and intends to do this unopposed and by masking its intentions by alleging that Cambodia is using the world heritage as a military base.

This lies and malicious rumors are precisely the reason why Cambodia has invited United Nations military observers to take up positions in the Preah Vihear temple region and its vicinity, sovereign Cambodian territory so that the international community can see up close and in person, that Cambodia is indeed a victim of Thailand’s grand scheme of annexing Cambodian soil, seizing Cambodia’s and the world cultural heritage from right under the nose of Cambodia and the world community!

This would indeed be the case if Cambodia left the temple unguarded as history and the ICJ has proven that Thais have looted the Preah Vihear temple for centuries and will continue to do so, even if they have no legal, cultural, historical and or moral right to the temple or its vicinity.

Cambodia, by appealing to the UNSC and the world community, including UNESCO to take up its just cause, has done the right thing as an intransigent Thailand   has proven time and again in decades that it cannot be trusted or depended upon to accept internationally binding verdicts not bilateral agreements as it harbors territorial ambitions and to claim as its own, what it does not own or understand in the first place! (Ek Madra, a Cambodian roaming journalist)

ឯកឧត្តម​បណ្ឌិត​ សុខ អាន ជួប​ពិភាក្សាការងារ​ជាមួយ​ ឯកអគ្គរាជទូត​ស៊ុយអែត​ថ្មី​​​​ប្រចាំ​នៅ​កម្ពុជា​

---

 

     នាព្រឹក​ថ្ងៃទី​១៥ ខែ​ កុម្ភៈ ឆ្នាំ ២០១១ នៅទីស្តីការ​គណៈរដ្ឋមន្រ្តី​ឯកឧត្តម​បណ្ឌិត សុខ អានឧបនាយករដ្ឋមន្រ្តី​ រដ្ឋមន្រ្តីទទួល​បន្ទុក​ទីស្តីការ​គណៈរដ្ឋមន្រ្តី​ បាន​ទទួល​ជួប​ពិភាក្សា ការងារ​ជា​មួយ​លោក​ជំទាវ​ អាន ហូគ្លុន (Anne Hoglund) ឯកអគ្គរាជទូត​នៃ​រាជាណាចក្រ​ ស៊ុយអែតថ្មី​​ប្រចាំនៅ​កម្ពុជា​ ដែល​មាន​បំណង​ឈ្វេង​យល់​ពី​ដំណើរ​ការ​ នៃ​កម្ម​វិធី​កំណែទម្រង់​ របស់​រាជរដ្ឋាភិបាល​ និង​សភាពការណ៍​វិវឌ្ឍ​ថ្មីៗ​​រវាង​ប្រទេស​កម្ពុជា និង​ប្រទេស​ថៃ​។

នៅ​​ក្នុង​ជំនួប​ពិភាក្សានោះ​ឯកឧត្តម​បណ្ឌិត សុខ អាន បាន​មាន​ប្រសាសន៍ឲ្យ​ដឹង​​ថា ភាព​តានតឹង​រវាង​កម្ពុជា​-ថៃ​នា​ពេល​កន្លង​មក ពិសេស​សង្គ្រាម​ឈ្លាន​ពាន​នា​ពេល​ថ្មី​ៗ​នេះ​ ​គឺ​ដោយ​សារ​តែ​ភាគី​ថៃ​ប្រើ​ប្រាស់​ផែន​ទី​ចម្លែក​ សំងាត់​ ផលិត​ដោយ​ឯកតោ​ភាគី​ ដើម្បី​ឈ្លាន​ពាន​ ប្រទេស​កម្ពុជា​​រំលោភ​លើ​សាលដីកា​តុលាការ​យុត្តិធម៌​អន្តរជាតិ​ ទីក្រុង​ឡាអេ​​ឆ្នាំ​ ១៩៦២​ ដែល​ គាំទ្រ​ និង​ទទួល​ស្គាល់​ផែន​ទី​ដង​រែក​ ដែល​ផលិត​ឡើង​ក្រោម​អនុសញ្ញា​បារាំង​-សៀម​ឆ្នាំ​១៩០៤ និង​សន្ធិសញ្ញាឆ្នាំ​ ១៩០៧ ហើយ​ត្រូវ​បាន​ទទួល​ស្គាល់​ជា​អន្តរជាតិ​ ក្នុង​ការ​កំណត់​ព្រំ​ដែន​រវាង ​ប្រទេស​ទាំង​ពីរ​កម្ពុជា-ថៃ​។​

ឯកឧត្តម​បណ្ឌិត​ សុខ អាន​ បាន​​បញ្ជាក់​ថា ​វត្តមាន​​អ្នក​ជំនាញ​ការ​ដើម្បី​ពិនិត្យវាយ តម្លៃ​​ការ​ខូច​ខាត​ប្រាសាទ​ព្រះ​វិហារ​ និងវត្តមាន​​អ្នក​សង្កេត​ការណ៍ពី​អង្គការ​សហប្រជាជាតិ​ ឬ​ មក​ពី​អាស៊ាន​ ​ គឺ​ជា​ភារកិច្ច​ដ៏ឧត្តុង​ឧត្តម​ ដើម្បី​បញ្ឈប់​សង្រ្គាម​ឈ្លាន​​ពាន​ពី​ភាគីថៃ​ និង​​បង្កើត​ឲ្យ​ មាន​ការ​ជឿជាក់​រវាង​ភាគីទាំង​ពីរ​ ព្រម​ទាំង​​ដើម្បី​ជួយ​សង្រោះ​ប្រាសាទ​ព្រះវិហារ​ ដែល​ជា​សម្បត្តិ​ បេតិកភណ្ឌពិភពលោក​។ ការ​ជម្រុញ​ណាមួយ​ឲ្យ​វិល​ទៅរក​ការ​ចរចា​ទ្វេ​ភាគី​គឺ​ដូច​ជា ទុក​ឱកាស​ ឲ្យ​ភាគីថៃ​បិទទ្វារ​វាយ​ប្រហារ​លើ​កម្ពុជា​។​

ឯកឧត្តម​បណ្ឌិត សុខ អាន ​ក៏​បាន​ជម្រាប​ជូន​លោកជំទាវ​ អាន ហូគ្លុន (Anne Hoglund) ឯកអគ្គ​រាជទូត​​នៃ​រាជាណាចក្រ​ស៊ុយអែត​ អំពី​​ដំណើរ​ការ​នៃ​សាលាក្តី​កាត់​ ទោស​មេ​ដឹក​នាំ​ខ្មែរ​ក្រហម​ ដែល​​កន្លង​មក​ត្រូវ​បាន​ចាត់​ទុក​ជា​គំរូ​សម្រាប់ពិភពលោក​​ និង​តំបន់​ ដែល​រួម​មាន​ការ​ចំណាយ​ពេល​តិច​ជាង​មួ​យ​ឆ្នាំ​សម្រាប់​​បង្កើត​បទបញ្ជា​ផ្ទៃ​ក្នុង​ និង​ចាប់​ខ្លួន​​ជន ​សង្ស័យ​ ការ​ចំណាយ​ថវិកា​តិច​ និង​មាន​ការ​ចូល​រួម​ដោយ​ផ្ទាល់​​ក្នុង​សវនាការ​ពី​ភាគី​ជនស៊ីវិល​ ជាសាក្សី​ និង​ជា​ដើម​បណ្ដឹង​ ក៏ដូច​ជា​​អំពី​ដំណើរ​​ការនៃ​កម្មវិធី​​កំណែ​ទម្រង់​​នានារបស់​ រាជរដ្ឋាភិបាល​ ជាអាទិ៍​​មាន​កំណែ​ទម្រង់​រដ្ឋបាល​សាធារណៈ​ ដើម្បី​ធានា​​ការ​ផ្តល់​សេវា​សាធារណៈ​ ជូន​ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ​ឲ្យ​​កាន់​តែ​មាន​ប្រសិទ្ធភាព​ កំណែទម្រង់​ប្រព័ន្ធ​យុត្តិធម៌​ និង​តុលាការ​តាម​រយៈ​ ការ​អប់​រំ​ និង​បណ្តុះ​បណ្តាល​ធនធាន​មនុស្ស​​ក្នុង​វិស័យ​នេះ​ និងការ​ប្រឆាំង​អំពើ​ពុករលួយជាដើម​។​

លោកជំទាវ អាន ហូគ្លុន (Anne Hoglund) ឯកអគ្គរាជទូត​នៃ​រាជាណាចក្រ​ ស៊ុយអែត បាន​មាន​ប្រសាសន៍​ថ្លែង​អំណរគុណ​ចំពោះ​ព័ត៌មាន​នានា​ ដែល​ផ្តល់​ដោយ​ឯកឧត្តម​ បណ្ឌិត​ឧបនាយករដ្ឋមន្រ្តី​ សុខ អាន​។​ លោកជំទាវ​ឯកអគ្គរាជទូត​ស៊ុយ​អែត​​ថ្មី​បាន​មាន ​ប្រសាសន៍​បញ្ជាក់ថា ក្នុង​ឱ​កាស​មាន​វត្តមាន​នៅ​កម្ពុជា​លោក​ជំទាវ​នឹង​ខិត​ខំ​ជម្រុញ ​ឲ្យ​ទំនាក់​ ទំនង​កិច្ច​សហប្រតិបត្តិ​ការ​អភិវឌ្ឍ​សេដ្ឋកិច្ច​ រវាង​ប្រទេស​ទាំង​ពីរ​ស៊ុយអែត-កម្ពុជា​ កាន់​តែ​មាន​ ការ​រីក​ចំរើន​។​

Address of His Excellency Hor Namhong,

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Kingdom of Cambodia

At the Meeting of the United Nations Security Council

New York, 14 February 2011

8

 - Your Excellency President,

-  Honorable Members of the United Nations Security Council,

—    First of all, I would like to thank you all for giving me this opportunity to brief the Security Council on the war of aggression against Cambodia committed by Thailand on 4, 5, 6 and 7 February 2011 at many locations. These include the following areas which are well inside Cambodian territory:

 the TEMPLE OF PREAH VIHEAR,

? the KEO SIKHA KIRI SVARA pagoda and KHMUM area located just 300 meters and 500 meters respectively from the TEMPLE OF PREAH VIHEAR,

? the regions of VEAL INTRY and PHNOM TRAP hill situated approximately 1,120 meters and 1,600 meters respectively from the border, TASEM area and others,

—    In its artillery attacks against Cambodia, Thailand used sophisticated weapons including cluster bombs and many 105, 120, 130 155 artillery shells reached as far as 20 km inside Cambodian territory. Thailand’s attacks since 4 February 2011 have caused many serious damages to the KEO SIKHA KIRI SVARA pagoda and the TEMPLE OF PREAH VIHEAR, a World Heritage site, as well as 6 deaths and 71 injuries among Cambodian troops and people.  Out of the total human casualties, 2 persons were killed and 8 others were injured by cluster bombs used by Thai soldiers, despite a worldwide ban on this type of weapon.

—    Even though there were two de facto agreements on a ceasefire, the current situation, however, remains extremely fragile. Fresh fighting may breakout again at any time without forewarning, while heavily armed Thai soldiers, artilleries and tanks have been positioned along the border, posing constant pressure on Cambodia.

—    Allow me to recall the root cause leading to the present war of aggression by Thailand against Cambodia as follows:

—    France and Siam signed the 1904 Convention and the 1907 Treaty to establish the Joint Commissions on the Delimitation of Frontiers between Indo-China and Siam.  In the period between the years 1905 and 1908, the Franco-Siamese Commission, set up by the Convention of 1904, produced a set of 11 maps ( all of which are of 1/200,000 scale), including the one called “Dangrek Map” that demarcates Sector 6 which is the area of the Temple of Preah Vihear. (Cambodia was under French protectorate from 1863 until 1953)

—    Since the production of the Dangrek Map in 1908, Thailand had officially recognizedthis map by asking the French authorities for many copies of the map for the use of the Governors of Thailand’s border provinces with Cambodia. 

—    In 1954, just after the independence of Cambodia in November 1953, Thai troops invaded Cambodian territory and occupied the TEMPLE OF PREAH VIHEAR. Cambodia, with self-restraint and the goodwill to avoid war, submitted this case to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), on 6 October 1959.  Based principally on the above mentioned Dangrek Map, referred to by the ICJ as  the “Annex I” Map , the ICJ adjudicated on 15 June 1962 as follows, 

“The Temple of Preah Vihear is situated in territory under the sovereignty of Cambodia.”

“Thailand is under an obligation to withdraw any military or police forces, or other guards or keepers, stationed by her at the Temple, or in its vicinity on Cambodian territory.”

“Thailand is under an obligation to restore to Cambodia any objects of the kind specified in Cambodia’s fifth Submission which may, since the date of the occupation of the Temple by Thailand in 1954, have been removed from the Temple or the Temple area by the Thai authorities.”

—    With regard to the boundary line between Cambodia and Thailand in the area of the TEMPLE OF PREAH VIHEAR, the judgment grounds of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 1962, clearly stated among others as follows:

“The Court however considers that Thailand in 1908-1909 did accept the Annex I map as representing the outcome of the work of delimitation, and hence recognized the line on that map as being the frontier line, the effect of which is to situate Preah Vihear in Cambodian territory”...

“Both Parties, by their conduct, recognize the line and thereby in effect agreed to regard it as being the frontier line”...

“There is, however, no reason to think that the Parties attached any special importance to the line of the watershed ...The Court, therefore, feels bound, as a matter of treaty interpretation, to pronounce in favour of the line as mapped in the disputed area”...

—    May I draw the attention of the Security Council that these are only a little part of the ICJ judgment grounds.

—    It should be noted that since the ICJ adjudication in 1962, Thailand has accepted to withdraw its troops from the area of the TEMPLE OF PREAH VIHEAR and its vicinity.

—    In June 2000, Cambodia and Thailand signed  a Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia and the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand on the Survey and Demarcation of Land Boundary, which recognizes, along with other legal documents, the “Dangrek map” referred to by the ICJ for its 1962 judgment as “Annex I” map, as legal basis for the survey and demarcation of land boundary between Cambodia and Thailand.

—    Thailand began to demand as its territory the so called 4.6 square kilometers area in thevicinity of the TEMPLE OF PREAH VIHEAR, only when the World Heritage Committee started to discuss the inscription of this TEMPLE on the World Heritage List in 2008.  This claim by Thailand is based on a unilaterally drawn map that does not have any legal value.

—    In exerting its illegitimate claims, Thailand committed armed aggressions against Cambodia on three earlier occasions, namely on 15 July 2008, 15 October 2008 and 3 April 2009 in the areas of the KEO SIKHA KIRI SVARA pagoda, VEAL INTRY, PHNOM TRAP hill and TASEM, all of which are in the vicinity of the TEMPLE OF PREAH VIHEAR. These aggressions resulted in human casualties as well as property damages, especially to the TEMPLE OF PREAH VIHEAR.

—    In the face of these blatant aggressions, Cambodia has exercised utmost restraint and maintained great patience in negotiating with Thailand to resolve the problem peacefully, in order to avoid any large military clash. However, Cambodia’s efforts have been in vain, because Thailand is emboldened by its larger and sophisticated armaments.

—    It should also be recalled that on 27 January 2011, in parallel with Thailand’s military exercise with heavy artilleries along the border with Cambodia, but in reality apreparation for war, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva of Thailand demanded that Cambodia must remove its flag from the KEO SIKHA KIRI SVARA pagoda of Cambodia near the TEMPLE OF PREAH VIHEAR, built since 1998.  Three days later, on 31 January 2011, he stated that “The use of force will be the last option....The Government is not afraid of war with Cambodia”. After a few days, Thai army commander General Prayuth Chan-ocha also made a similar statement that “the use of force will be the last resort”.

—    Again, on 6 February 2011, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva told reporters that “I insist that a troop withdrawal as proposed by Cambodia could not be done since we have to maintain our right [over the area] although it is risky to have another clash”, while Cambodia proposed for a withdrawal of troops by both sides away from the borderline, so as to avoid renewed armed confrontation.

—    All these statements in parallel with the preparation for war constituted a casus belli for the February war against Cambodia on 4,5,6 and 7. Even nowadays, according to Thai media, as all of you may know, Thailand continues to increasingly deploy tanks, artilleries and soldiers along the Cambodian border.

—    The repeated acts of aggression against Cambodia by Thailand violate flagrantly the following legal instruments: 

1.   Article 94.1 of the United Nations’ Charter concerning the obligation of each member of the United Nation to comply with the decision of the International Court of Justice in any case to which it is a party.

2.   Articles 2.3. and 2.4 of the United Nations’ Charter.

3.   The Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) in Southeast Asia, Article 2 , to which Cambodia and Thailand are parties, provides for:

§ Mutual respect for the independence, sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity and national identity of all nations.

§ Settlement of differences and disputes by peaceful means.

§ Renunciation of the threat or use of force.    

4.   The Agreement Concerning the Sovereignty, Independence, Territorial Integrity and Inviolability, Neutrality and National Unity of Cambodia, Article 2.2.c, 2.2.d, of the Paris Peace Accord in 1991. 

—    Therefore, I earnestly appeal to the Security Council to take measures, in accordance with Articles 35.1, 36, 39 and 94.2 of the United Nations Charter, to stop Thailand’s aggressions which have gravely endangered peace and stability in the Region. Pending a definite solution, the Royal Government of Cambodia deems it very necessary to haveUN observers or peace keepers or at least a Fact Finding Mission in this area of the border to ensure that no fresh armed hostilities break out again.

—    Even though self-restraint and efforts made by Cambodia for a peaceful settlement of the conflict through bilateral negotiations have failed, Cambodia still always aspires to a peaceful solution, through a regional framework such as ASEAN, as both Cambodia and Thailand are members of this organization.

—    In case of non peaceful settlement of the conflict in spite of the good offices of ASEAN, Cambodia would like to propose that the UNSC remain engaged to look for a definite solution in accordance with the U.N. Charter.

—    The UNSC may also refer this matter to the ICJ for interpretation of the judgment in 1962 according to Article 96.1 of the UN Charter, because the root cause of the conflict resides in the misinterpretation of the ICJ judgment in 1962.

—    Thanks to the decision of the UNSC early last week to call for today meeting, the Thai army has eased the large scale armed attacks against Cambodia and agreed on cease fire. My Government wishes to take this opportunity to express our deepest gratitude to all Council members for this prompt action which has greatly saved a lot of lives and miseries not only for the people of Cambodia but also of Thailand.

Thank you

Press releases of UNESCO on Preah Vihear

The Director-General of UNESCO names Koïchiro Matsuura as Special Envoy on Preah Vihear

Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, has named Koïchiro Matsuura as Special Envoy to address the issue of Preah Vihear.

Mr Matsuura, former Director-General of UNESCO, will visit Bangkok and Phnom Penh to discuss how the World Heritage site can be safeguarded. He will examine with both sides how to lessen tension and promote dialogue around the preservation of the Temple, within the Organization's mandate.

The Director-General informed Cambodia and Thailand about Mr Matsuura's mission.

Preah Vihear Temple was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2008 on the grounds of its outstanding universal value. States Parties to UNESCO's World Heritage Convention of 1972 undertake to recognize that "such heritage constitutes a world heritage for whose protection it is the duty of the international community as a whole to co-operate".

Cambodia and Thailand are both signatories to the Convention.

11.02.2011
Source: UNESCOPRESS

 

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UNESCO Director-General to send Special Envoy to Bangkok and Phnom Penh

UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova regretted the continuing tension between Cambodia and Thailand over the issue of the Temple of Preah Vihear. “The world’s cultural heritage should never be a cause for conflict,” she said.

She announced that she would shortly send a Special Envoy on a mission of good offices to Bangkok and Phnom Penh, following appropriate consultations with both capitals.

The Director-General also stated that any assessment mission to the Preah Vihear site could only take place once calm has been restored to the area.

Meanwhile, UNESCO is in close touch with senior officials of both countries.

The temple was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2008. Dedicated to Shiva, is composed of a series of sanctuaries linked by a system of pavements and staircases over an 800-metre-long axis; it dates back to the first half of the 11th century AD. The site is exceptional for the quality of its carved stone ornamentation and its architecture, adapted to the natural environment and the religious function of the temple.

10.02.2011
Source: UNESCOPRESS

 

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Director-General expresses alarm over escalation of violence between Thailand and Cambodia

Temple of Preah Vihear - © UNESCO/A. Clayson

UNESCO Director- General Irina Bokova expressed her deep concern at the sudden escalation of tensions between Cambodia and Thailand on the issue of the Temple of Preah Vihear, inscribed on the World Heritage List.

Reports indicate that troops on either side have exchanged fire resulting in the loss of life and also some damage to the temple.

The Director-General expresses her distress at this sudden turn of events and calls upon both sides to exercise restraint for the sake of the preservation of the Temple of Preah Vihear and open direct channels of communication at the highest levels to defuse the tension.

05.02.2011
Source: UNESCOPRESS

14/02/2011 Security Council urges permanent ceasefire after recent Thai-Cambodia clashes

Security Council SC/10174

Department of Public Information • News and Media Division • New York

SECURITY COUNCIL PRESS STATEMENT ON CAMBODIA-THAILAND BORDER SITUATION

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti ( Brazil):

The members of the Security Council were briefed by Under-Secretary-General B. Lynn Pascoe and by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, and Chair of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN), Marty Natalegawa, on the situation on the border between Cambodia and Thailand.

The members of the Security Council also heard from the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Cambodia, Hor Namhong, and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Thailand, Kasit Piromya.

The members of the Security Council expressed their grave concern about the recent armed clashes between Cambodia and Thailand.

The members of the Security Council called on the two sides to display maximum restraint and avoid any action that may aggravate the situation.  The members of the Security Council further urged the parties to establish a permanent ceasefire, and to implement it fully and resolve the situation peacefully and through effective dialogue.

The members of the Security Council expressed support for ASEAN’s active efforts in this matter and encouraged the parties to continue to cooperate with the organization in this regard.  They welcomed the upcoming Meeting of Ministers for Foreign Affairs of ASEAN on 22 February.

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For information media • not an official record

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Security Council urges permanent ceasefire after recent Thai-Cambodia clashes

Amb. Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti of Brazil

14 February 2011 – Voicing grave concern about the recent armed clashes between Cambodia and Thailand, the Security Council today urged the South-East Asian neighbours to establish a permanent ceasefire following closed-door talks on the situation.“The members of the Security Council called on the two sides to display maximum restraint and avoid any action that may aggravate the situation,” Ambassador Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti of Brazil, which holds the monthly presidency of the 15-member body for February, said in a statement read out to the press after the meeting.
“The members of the Security Council further urged the parties to establish a permanent ceasefire and to implement it fully and resolve the situation peacefully and through effective dialogue,” the statement added.
Tensions first escalated between the two countries in July 2008 following the build-up of military forces near the Preah Vihear temple, which dates back to the 11th century and is located on the Cambodian side of the border. The Hindu temple was inscribed on the World Heritage List of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) that same month.
Clashes between the two neighbours resumed earlier this month, prompting calls for calm and restraint by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon as well as UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova.
During its session today, the Council was briefed by Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs B. Lynn Pascoe and Marty Natalegawa, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia and Chair of the regional grouping known as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
It also heard from Hor Namhong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia, and Kasit Piromya, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand.
The Council expressed support for ASEAN’s active efforts regarding the situation between Cambodia and Thailand, and encouraged the parties to continue to cooperate with the organization in this regard. The issue is expected to be discussed at the meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers on 22 February.
 

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Spokesperson's Noon Briefing

Department of Public Information • News and Media Division • New York

DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today’s noon briefing by Martin Nesirky, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Good afternoon everybody.

** Lebanon

I have a statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General on the sixth anniversary of the assassination of Rafiq Hariri.

As Lebanon marks the sixth anniversary of the terrorist attack that took the lives of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri and 22 others, the Secretary-General stands with the people of Lebanon in commemorating the life and achievements of Mr. Hariri and renews his condolences to the families of the victims of this crime.

The Secretary-General reaffirms the commitment of the United Nations to the efforts of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon to uncover the truth so as to bring those responsible to justice and send a message that impunity will not be tolerated.

The Secretary-General also calls for the full implementation of all Security Council resolutions pertaining to Lebanon.

**Security Council

As you know, the Security Council is holding consultations on Cambodia-Thailand this morning.  The Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, B. Lynn Pascoe, is expected at the Security Council stakeout when consultations are over.

And the Foreign Ministers of Cambodia and Thailand will also both speak at the stakeout after the meeting.  The Thai Foreign Minister will also hold a press conference in this auditorium at 3 p.m. today.

**Secretary-General in Ecuador

The Secretary-General is in Quito, in Ecuador, where he is meeting right now with President Rafael Correa.  The two of them intend to talk to the press after their meeting.  The Secretary-General will tell the President that he has come to show support for Ecuador when it is still recovering from last September’s events.  And he will express his trust that with dialogue, Ecuador will continue to strengthen its institutions, advance development and forge solidarity.  This evening, he will travel to Peru, where he will meet with President Alan Garcia tomorrow.

**Children and Armed Conflict

The Secretary-General’s latest reports on children and armed conflict in Afghanistan and Chad are out as documents.  On Afghanistan, he says that children have been used by anti-Government groups for suicide bombing or for planting explosives.  Children are also being recruited by the Afghan national security forces, despite the official Government policy.

On Chad, the Secretary-General says that the improved security situation in the country’s east has had a positive impact on the protection of children, with a large number of children having been returned or released from armed groups.  However, he writes, children continued to be targets of sexual and gender-based violence.

**Press Conferences

I understand Mr. Pascoe is about to speak at the stakeout following the meeting, as I mentioned, on Thailand and Cambodia.

At 1:15 p.m. today, there will be a press conference; this is experts from the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the UN Research Institute for Social Development.  They will be speaking about social protection and its importance in poverty eradication.

And tomorrow at 10:30 a.m., there will be a press conference with Joaquin Antuña, President of the non-governmental organization Peace and Cooperation, who will present the 2011 School Award “Peace and Reconciliation”.

And then at 11:15 a.m., Joel Simon, who is the Executive Director of the Committee to Protect Journalists, and Riz Khan of Al Jazeera, will give a press conference to launch the annual CPJ publication, Attacks on the Press.  And both of those press conferences will take place here in this Auditorium.

So, questions please?  Yes, Mr. Abbadi?

**Questions and Answers

Question:  Thank you, Martin.  Since the events in Tunisia, some 5,000 Tunisians have left the country by ship and landed in the Italian island of Lampedusa, creating a crisis there.  Italy is very concerned about this and has asked the European Union to help it cope with the problem.  What is the UN doing in terms of preventive measures to head off any humanitarian crisis in the area?

Spokesperson:  Well, I understand that our colleagues at the UN who work for the UNHCR, the refugee agency, are closely following events and in touch with the authorities to see what assistance they can provide.  I know that they are actively involved in that right now, and should we have more details — and I would anticipate more details — then I’d be very happy to share them with you.  Yes, Masood?

Question:  Yes, there is a report, I mean, emanating from Pakistan and over here, that Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, the one who was convicted in a United States court about a year ago, that she is… that the United Nations has obtained certain evidence about involvement of certain agencies in her arrest and incarceration which refutes the evidence presented in the court.  Is that true that the UN has a report which says Aafia Siddiqui [inaudible], and that that report has been made available to certain groups in Pakistan?

Spokesperson:  I have to check on that, I am not aware of that.  Let me check.  Okay, thank you.  Yes, Anne?

[The Spokesperson later noted that this was a reference to a report by a non-governmental organization and not by the United Nations.]

Question:  Yes.  Will there be any stakeouts or press briefings tomorrow by the Lithuanian Foreign Minister as [inaudible] Chair of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and the community of [inaudible]?

Spokesperson:  Let me find out.  It may be that that’s the case.  Typically, a visiting Chairperson in office would speak to the press.  But let me find out.

Question:  I guess I want to follow up on… the Palestinians have called for, I mean, the Palestinian President dissolved his Cabinet and called for elections in… ahead of September.  Have they called upon the United Nations to help them in facilitating the election at all?  Does the United Nations know anything about it?

Spokesperson:  Well, that’s something that has happened relatively recently, I mean this latest development.  I am not aware yet of any request for assistance, but, as you know, typically, when a request is made, the UN would look at it very closely to see how it could help.  And the United Nations has a long track record in providing technical assistance for elections in different parts of the world.  Yes, Matthew?

Question:  Sure, Martin.  I wanted to ask you about this, the flying by UNMIS of Ahmed Haroun, who is indicted by the ICC.  And earlier response from your office had said that…

Spokesperson:  Matthew, why don’t you read out what your blog said today?

Correspondent:  Yeah, Okay.

Spokesperson:  Why don’t you read out…?

Question:  No, what I would like to know, I’d like to know what your response is.

Spokesperson:  Why don’t you read out what the top of your blog said today?  Do you want to read out the top, what your blog actually says?

Correspondent:  I’d like… okay, fine, I mean… I guess that… I was trying to ask you a question.  I thought that was the purpose of these briefings. 

Spokesperson:  No, I mean, just ask the question, but…

Question:  Yeah, my question is, how is it consistent with the response that I got that said that there were these pre-existing seats and were done at no additional cost to the Mission with Mr. [Haile] Menkerios’ statement that there was a special helicopter used because there are no regular flights to Abyei.  How are the two consistent?  And what was the cost to Abyei?  And…

Spokesperson:  Well, I think there is a very clear answer to this.  And that is that, at the request of the Government and when space is available, UNMIS provides seats on its flights to Government officials on official business related to the peace process, and without any financial implications to the Government and at no additional operational costs to the Mission.  This means that, as part of the Mission's mandate, the cost of transporting Government officials, whether it is on a regular or a special flight, is already allocated in the Mission's budget and so there is no question of it incurring any additional operational costs.

And in this case — and as mentioned indeed by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Menkerios — a regular flight was not available and therefore UNMIS transported Governor Haroun as part of its mandate to provide good offices to the parties, under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, in their efforts to resolve their differences through dialogue and negotiations.

And as I think you will recall, at the time there were clashes in Abyei going on at the time, and those clashes threatened to escalate.  And it was Governor Haroun who was instrumental in bringing the Misseriya leaders to that meeting in Abyei, and this helped to prevent further clashes.

Question:  But you understand why the answer that said on a space-available basis and at no additional operational cost to the Mission created the impression that this was a pre-existing flight, as from, for example, Kinshasa to Goma, on which he put somebody on an existing flight?  I mean, that’s why I have been asking who else was on the flight and how much did the flight cost.  It seems a fair question when transporting an indicted ICC indicted of war crimes.

Spokesperson:  I think, as we’ve said very clearly, no additional operational costs are involved.  Within the budget there are costs that cover transport, and there is no additional cost involved in the flight that was provided.

Question:  The idea of like a special UN flight to fly Mr. Haroun to Abyei being at no additional costs to the Mission. I just, I guess I wanted…

Spokesperson:  Because there are blocks of time available for flights, and that is already budgeted into the Mission’s budget, and indeed that is a standard procedure in any mission which has an aircraft.

Question:  Would the UN fly Omer al-Bashir to Darfur?  I mean, I guess I just want to know where it stops.  I guess I just want to reiterate my question, despite the simplest way to do it, how much the flight actually cost - because there is, I am sure, a cost to it – and who else was on the flight?  I mean, it seemed like a pretty fair… because there is controversy around this flight and I just find that the answer that was given, at least I know, maybe I am… maybe I am a bad reader, but it’s… when it says when seats are available and at no additional cost it implies that the flight was a pre-existing flight on which, at no cost to the Mission, they put Mr. Haroun on the flight.  But it’s not the case.

Spokesperson:  Well, it is as I said to you, when space is available and at the request of the Government, the Mission provides seats on its flights.  And it doesn’t, there are no financial implications for the Government, and no additional operational costs to the mission.

Correspondent:  [inaudible] when you said like when seats are available, usually this implies…

Spokesperson:  Let’s move on, we’re moving round in circles, Matthew.  Let’s move on to the next question.  I am sure you have another question.

Question:  I do, actually.  One is that in Haiti…

Spokesperson:  And I see other people have questions too.  Rather than it being a dialogue.

Question:  In Haiti…

Spokesperson:  Let’s have other people ask questions.

Question:  In Haiti…

Spokesperson:  I’ll come back to you, I’ll come back to you, okay?  Yes?

Question:  Martin, the Secretary-General declared during the events in Tunisia that the UN stood ready to give assistance to the Tunisian people.  Since then, has the provisional Government of the country asked for any particular type of assistance?

Spokesperson:  Well, as you know, a human rights mission was sent quite quickly, and that formed part of an early assistance to the country to help them in the process of investigating what had happened, and also to enable dialogue and reconciliation to start.  I know that my colleagues from different parts of the UN system have been in touch with the Tunisian authorities on their request, and I am sure that those details will be coming together before long.  It is obviously something that the UN has a role to play in, if it is asked to do so, and it has a track record of helping in different ways in different countries if asked to do so.  Yes, Matthew?

Question:  Sure, I want to know, in Haiti, there is this report over the weekend about this large camp called the Canaan camp, which it said people had set up and with the expect… you know, thinking rightly or wrongly that services would be provided, and quotes Nigel Fisher as saying the Government has blocked the UN from providing services.  And I guess I just wanted to know, what is being done to ensure that these people receive at least some basic services, given MINUSTAH being there, and what is the relationship between the Government and the UN in terms of providing services to these people?

Spokesperson:  Well, we saw your e-mailed question and when we have an answer we will give it to you, Matthew.

Question:  [inaudible], the question, that I guess was from last week about the report about the OIOS audit of the Umoja programme.  Is there a response yet? And I also had asked a couple of additional questions about…

Spokesperson:  Likewise, Matthew, seen your e-mail, and when we have a response we will give it to you.

Question:  Also the Congo, there is this report, I wanted to know whether MONUSCO has been aware of it and has somehow publicized this of the, not the LRA, but the ADF-NALU, this Ugandan group, local leaders have said that they killed 12 people in eastern Congo and that there are signs of torture.  Is that something that MONUSCO is acting on?

Spokesperson:  Well, we are aware of an incident that took place, well it is on the night of 11 February.  And this is in Faradje in northern DRC.  And what I can tell you is that the Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, MONUSCO, in collaboration with the Congolese army and the local administration, has met with the residents of that location, Faradje.  And they have been examining the situation and they will recommend measures to enhance the security in the area.  I can tell you that the Mission’s and the Congolese army’s deployments in Faradje were already reinforced on Saturday with troops being airlifted to there from Dungu, which is about 100 kilometres away.  That’s what I can tell you on that.  Okay, yes, Masood?

Question:  On this, I just want to ask a question about this Gaza… the situation in Gaza and the crossings and so forth.  Since Mubarak’s Government has been ousted, I am asking, as it was also monitoring the so-called, I mean, tunnels and so forth into Gaza, has that situation eased out or has become more… or Israel is not probably patrolling more than… because Egypt is now busy doing else, other things?

Spokesperson:  I’d need to check with my colleagues from UNRWA, who obviously are on the ground in Gaza.  What I would say is that, as the Secretary-General mentioned to the Israeli Defence Minister, when they met last week, more needs too be done to ease the suffering of the people of Gaza, and one important part of that is to allow, through the crossing points, unhindered movement of people and goods in both directions.  That’s vital for the people of Gaza so that they can rebuild and so that they can really allow their untapped potential to really be… to come to the fore and for them to be able to rebuild their economy.

Question:  Martin, did he receive any positive assurances or, I mean, assurances of any action?  I mean, [inaudible].

Spokesperson:  Well, as I mentioned last week, the Secretary-General expressed his satisfaction that Tony Blair, the Quartet envoy, and the Israeli authorities have put together a number of elements in a package that would allow more work to be done in Gaza on a number of different projects and indeed it wasn’t simply Gaza, but the West Bank, as well.  But obviously having a package in place is one thing.  It is actually implementing it and seeing the results that really counts.  And so we will be watching that very carefully and clearly encouraging the Israeli authorities to follow through on that.  And certainly that is a really important aspect if we are to see the plight of the people in Gaza eased.  Yes, Mr. Abbadi?

Question:  Thank you, Martin.  On Western Sahara, during one of the informal discussions in Manhasset, Long Island, Morocco has asked Ambassador [Christopher] Ross, the Personal Envoy to the Sahara conflict, to involve the observers, namely Algeria and Mauritania, as full partners, rather than as observers into the discussions.  Does he intend to do that next round of discussions?

Spokesperson:  I’d have to check with Mr. Ross on that.  As you know, the approach that has been taken is a step-by-step approach.  And a key element of that is building confidence, and you will have seen that some very practical measures have been taken with the aim of helping the people on the ground, and through that to help to build confidence in the political process as well.  But let me check with Mr. Ross on that, yes.

Okay, thank you very much.  Have a good afternoon.  Thank you.

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For information media • not an official record

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UN world heritage agency appoints special envoy for Preah Vihear temple

Damage to Preah Vihear temple

11 February 2011 – The head of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) today named Koïchiro Matsuura as Special Envoy to address the issue of Preah Vihear, a Hindu temple inscribed on the World Heritage List that has been damaged owing to recent border clashes between Cambodia and Thailand.Mr. Matsuura, the former Director-General of UNESCO, will visit Bangkok and Phnom Penh to discuss how the site can be safeguarded.
“He will examine with both sides how to lessen tension and promote dialogue around the preservation of the temple, within the Organization’s mandate,” the Paris-based agency said in a news release.
UNESCO had announced earlier this week that it would send a mission to assess the damage caused by the recent armed clashes between the two South-East Asian neighbours to the temple, which was inscribed on the World Heritage List in July 2008.
Tensions first escalated between the two countries that same month following the build-up of military forces near the temple, which dates back to the 11th century and is located on the Cambodian side of the border.
“World Heritage sites are the heritage of all humanity and the international community has a special responsibility to safeguard them. This requires a collective effort that must be undertaken in a spirit of consultation and dialogue,” said UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova.
“Heritage should unite people and serve as an instrument of dialogue and mutual understanding and not of conflict,” she added.
Ms. Bokova and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon have called for calm and restraint by both sides amid the renewed clashes.

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UNESCO to assess damage to Hindu temple caused by Thai-Cambodian clashes

The Temple of Preah Vihear

8 February 2011 – The United Nations cultural agencysaid today it plans to send a mission to assess the damage caused to the Preah Vihear Temple, a World Heritage site, by the recent armed clashes between Thailand and Cambodia.Tensions first escalated between the South-East Asian neighbours in July 2008 following the build-up of military forces near the temple, which dates back to the 11th century and is located on the Cambodian side of the border.
The temple was inscribed on the World Heritage List of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) earlier that month.
There have been renewed armed clashes between the two countries in recent days, prompting calls for restraint by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
Speaking to reporters in New York, Mr. Ban said he spoke to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva by telephone today, urging both leaders “to end violence, to exercise restraint, and find a lasting solution to the dispute.”
UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova today reiterated her call for calm and restraint around the temple.
“World Heritage sites are the heritage of all humanity and the international community has a special responsibility to safeguard them. This requires a collective effort that must be undertaken in a spirit of consultation and dialogue,” she stated in a news release.
“Heritage should unite people and serve as an instrument of dialogue and mutual understanding and not of conflict.”
The temple, dedicated to the Hindu deity Shiva, is composed of a series of sanctuaries linked by a system of pavements and staircases over an 800-metre-long axis. The site is exceptional for the quality of its carved stone ornamentation and its architecture, adapted to the natural environment and the religious function of the temple, according to UNESCO.

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UN chief urges restraint after latest Thai-Cambodian border clashes

Temple of Preah Vihear

6 February 2011 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Sunday voiced concern about repeated armed clashes between Cambodia and Thailand around their common border, and called on both sides to exercise restraint and resolve their dispute through dialogue.The clashes that occurred between 4 and 6 February has reportedly claimed a number of lives, and led to the displacement of civilians and destruction of property, according to a statement issued by Mr. Ban's spokesperson.
“The Secretary-General appeals to both sides to put in place an effective arrangement for cessation of hostilities and to exercise maximum restraint,” it stated.
“He also calls on them to continue their efforts to finding a lasting solution to their dispute through established mechanisms and arrangements and a spirit of dialogue and good neighbourly relations.”
Tensions escalated between the South-East Asian neighbours in July 2008 following the build-up of military forces near the Preah Vihear Temple in Cambodia.
The temple, which dates back to the 11th century, was inscribed on the World Heritage List of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) earlier that month.
Today's statement reiterated the UN's readiness to assist in peaceful efforts to resolve the dispute.

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UN chief offers to help Thailand and Cambodia resolve border dispute

Temple of Preah Vihear

20 August 2010 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today offered to help Cambodia and Thailand resolve their differences over a disputed temple area along their common border.Tensions escalated between the two neighbouring South-East Asian nations in July 2008 following the build-up of military forces near the Preah Vihear Temple in Cambodia.
The temple, which dates back to the 11^th century, was inscribed on the World Heritage List of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) earlier that month.
The row turned deadly in October of that year when two people reportedly died during an exchange of fire between Thai and Cambodian forces near the site.
“The Secretary-General hopes that Cambodia and Thailand will resolve the dispute along their border amicably through dialogue,” UN spokesperson Farhan Haq told reporters in New York.
“He stands ready to help the parties,” Mr. Haq added.

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Secretary-General urges restraint as Cambodian-Thai border row turns deadly

Temple of Preah Vihear

15 October 2008 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today expressed deep concern about the exchange of gunfire today along the Cambodian-Thai border near a disputed ancient temple that has reportedly led to the deaths of at least two people.“He calls on both parties to exercise utmost restraint and urges them to expedite bilateral talks so that their differences can be resolved peacefully,” Mr. Ban’s spokesperson said in a statement.
Media reports say two people were killed during the exchange of fire between Thai and Cambodian soldiers near the Preah Vihear Temple, which was inscribed on the World Heritage List by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in July.
Since then there has been a build-up of military forces on both sides, and Mr. Ban has called previously for Cambodia and Thailand to both exercise restraint.
The temple, which dates back to the 11th century, was recognized by the World Heritage Committee for “its natural situation on a promontory, with sheer cliffs overlooking a vast plain and mountain range; the quality of its architecture adapted to the natural environment and religious function of the temple; and, finally, the exceptional quality of the carved stone ornamentation of the temple.”

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Secretary-General appeals for calm between Cambodia and Thailand

Temple of Preah Vihear

21 July 2008 – Expressing concern over the recent escalation of tensions between Cambodia and Thailand, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called on both sides to peacefully resolve the situation.There is a build-up of military forces near the Preah Vihear Temple in Cambodia, which was inscribed on the World Heritage List of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) earlier this month.
“The Secretary-General calls for restraint on both sides and hopes that this matter can be resolved peacefully and by diplomatic means in the context of the excellent relations that traditional exist between the two countries,” according to a statement issued by Mr. Ban’s spokesperson.
The temple, which dates back to the 11th century, and was recognized by the World Heritage Committee for “its natural situation on a promontory, with sheer cliffs overlooking a vast plain and mountain range; the quality of its architecture adapted to the natural environment and religious function of the temple; and, finally, the exceptional quality of the carved stone ornamentation of the temple.”

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UNESCO’s World Heritage List now boasts total of 27 new sites

8 July 2008 – The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has inscribed a total of 27 new sites to its World Heritage List, including a Canadian fossil park, a thousand-year-old temple in Cambodia and the lagoons of New Caledonia.The latest additions include 19 cultural sites and eight natural sites chosen by the agency’s 21-member World Heritage Committee, which is currently holding its 32nd session in Quebec City, Canada.
Yesterday’s additions include a monarch butterfly biosphere preserve in Mexico, a historic Alpine railway linking Switzerland and Italy, an Icelandic volcanic island and an archipelago in Yemen, among others.
The Committee has also expanded the scope of four existing sites. They include Spain’s Altamira Cave, to which 17 more caves with paintings from the Paleolithic era have been added, and the “frontiers of the Roman Empire,” which will now include a 60-kilometre wall fortification in the United Kingdom that was built in the second century A.D.
Added to the List today were the Bahá’i Holy Places in Haifa and Western Galilee (Israel), as well as the first site to be inscribed in Vanuatu, consisting of three sites associated with the life and death of the last paramount chief, or Roi Mata.
Papua New Guinea, San Marino and Saudi Arabia have also had sites inscribed on the List for the first time this year.
The List now numbers a total of 878 sites, 679 cultural and 174 natural sites and 25 mixed in 145 countries.