Please agree to our privacy policy to enable news listening. (Central News Agency reporter Li Zongxian, Bangkok, 5th) The Thai cabinet decided today to cancel the joint offshore energy exploration agreement signed with Cambodia in 2001. According to the agreement, both Thailand and Cambodia recognized that they have differences in maritime demarcation, and it is the framework for the two countries to negotiate maritime sovereignty. Presiding over a weekly cabinet meeting today, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said the decision had nothing to do with current tensions with Cambodia but stemmed from his long-held view that the agreement signed 25 years ago had not achieved anything. Previously, Cambodia called on Thailand to continue to implement the agreement. Thai PBS reported today that Anutin said that even without the agreement called “Memorandum 44” (MOU44) signed by Thailand and Cambodia in 2001, the two countries could still discuss maritime disputes through other mechanisms and platforms, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). In fact, Thai civil society organizations and activists have recently continued to call on the government to terminate the agreement. After conflicts broke out on the Thai-Cambodian border last year, related pressures further increased. The report pointed out that at the beginning of Anutin’s second term, he promised in a policy statement to Congress that he would push Thailand to withdraw from the bilateral agreement. Cambodia and Thailand each demarcated the scope of sovereignty in the disputed waters in 1972 and 1973 respectively. In order to resolve the dispute, the two sides signed “Memorandum 44” in 2001. Each recognized that the other had different views on the demarcation of maritime areas. “Memorandum 44” will serve as the framework for the two parties to negotiate maritime sovereignty. The Bangkok Post pointed out that although Thailand and Cambodia have held many rounds of talks, progress has been slow since the signing of “Memorandum 44”. The main reason is Thailand’s political instability, occasional disputes between the two countries, and strong opposition from Thai nationalists, which hinders the negotiation process. Thai public television reported that Anutin declined to comment on claims that former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said canceling the agreement could lead to disputes. Anutin said he would inform Cambodia of his decision to withdraw from the agreement. According to reports, the decision to terminate the agreement has not yet officially taken effect as Thailand must first notify the other signatory. (Editor: Tang Shengyang) 1150505 Support the Central News Agency’s choice to stand with the facts. Every donation you make is a small amount of support to protect press freedom. Download the Central News Agency’s “First-hand News” APP to get the latest news in real time. The text, pictures and audio and video of this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.
Source link
Thailand terminates energy exploration agreement with Cambodia, saying it has nothing to do with border conflict | International | Central News Agency CNA
Leave a Reply