Unesco: Cambodia is the sole owner of Preah Vihear temple

Deputy PM Sok An talking to reporters.

Source: Deum Ampil newspaper
Reported in English by Khmerization
http://khmerization.blogspot.com

Unesco has shown its stance by reiterating again that Cambodia is the sole owner of Preah Vihear temple, while rejecting the Thai proposal for a joint registration of the temple between Cambodia and Thailand, reports Deum Ampil.

During a press conference at Phnom Penh Airport upon his return from a Unesco conference in Seville, Spain on Sunday morning the 5th of July, Cambodian Deputy PM Sok An reiterates his firm stance against the Thai proposal for a joint registration of the temple. He said: "I am still objecting to the Thai proposal for a joint registration of Preah Vihear temple with Thailand in the Unesco's World Heritage List."

The Deputy PM said Cambodian delegation had made an excellent video presentation to the other delegates during the conference in Spain. He said: "During the Unesco conference in Seville, Spain, Cambodia has made a presentation by showing a video of the armed clashes between Cambodian and Thai troops in the past."

According to Deum Ampil, an unnamed Unesco official said the pictures seen in the video shown clearly that crimes have been committed. The unnamed Unesco official also said that he absolutely supports the notion that Cambodia is the sole owner of Preah Vihear temple.

The unnamed official also urged the Cambodian government to continue to show the video of the armed clashes to the Cambodian population so that the Cambodian people can be informed of what actually had happened during the armed clashes.

Thai troops invaded the areas surrounding Preah Vihear temple on 15th July 2008, one week after it was inscribed by Unesco on 7th July. Since then two armed clashes had erupted between Cambodian and Thai troops, one on 15th October 2008 and another on 3rd April 2009 during which the temple suffered some damages, caused by Thai shells.