Bangkok: Prime Minister Sihasak Srimuang expressed confidence in the process following the appointment of Katrina Cooper as chair of the UNCLOS mediation committee on the Thai-Cambodian dispute, with hopes for a resolution that both parties find acceptable. He reiterated Thailand's position of safeguarding national interests, emphasizing that border negotiations must be resolved prior to any discussions on resource sharing.
According to Thai News Agency, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sihasak Phuangketkaew, discussed the appointment of Australian Ambassador Katrina Cooper as the fifth mediator. Cooper will chair the Conciliation Commission under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). With extensive diplomatic experience, Cooper's past roles include Deputy Permanent Secretary for East Asia and a co-agent for Australia. Her experience as a legal advisor to the Australian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and her involvement in the mandatory conciliation mechanism between Timor-Leste and Australia further bolsters her qualifications. Sihasak is confident that the process will be fair and that Cooper will have a comprehensive understanding of the issues between Thailand and Cambodia.
In discussing Thailand's objectives, Mr. Sihasak stated that while the mechanism will lead to recommendations, Thailand must also present its perspective. Meetings may occur every one or two months, based on the mediators' judgment. Thailand's role involves participating in discussions with the mediation committee and clarifying facts. He noted that a swift process would be advantageous for reaching a resolution but emphasized that the mediation's outcome is not legally binding. Instead, it serves as a guideline requiring further review to identify agreement and disagreement points. This will lay the groundwork for future discussions with Cambodia, as dialogue is ultimately necessary. Thailand's initial stance was to prioritize dialogue, avoiding mandatory processes. However, if dialogue fails, Thailand will consider other UNCLOS mechanisms, which include both mandatory and voluntary mediation.
"Now that this process has begun, we are prepared to defend our interests and clarify our position. We hope this process will proceed smoothly and lead to a potentially positive outcome, aiding us in finding a mutually acceptable solution. Our stance is that compromise must solely focus on demarcating the maritime boundary, finalized without any discussion of resource sharing. However, Cambodia wants discussions on resource sharing in the sea as well," Mr. Sihasak added.