[International] Australian Diplomat Appointed Chair of Thai-Cambodian Maritime Dispute Mediation, First Meeting in September
RtiTalk 小編10d agoEdited
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand announced on the 14th that Australian diplomat and international law expert Katrina Cooper has been appointed as the chair and the 5th mediator of the mediation committee for the maritime boundary dispute between Thailand and Cambodia. The committee will proceed with mediation procedures in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), with the first meeting expected in September.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand issued a press release on the 14th stating that Thailand has received formal notification from the Permanent Court of Arbitration regarding the appointment of Australian diplomat Cooper as the chair and the 5th mediator of the Thai-Cambodian maritime boundary dispute mediation committee. Cooper is a highly respected international law expert and one of the candidates supported by Thailand.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand pointed out, "She (Cooper) possesses extensive knowledge, expertise, and experience in international law and negotiation. Furthermore, she has rich experience in diplomacy and international relations, which will help her understand the broader context of international relations and related sensitive issues."
Cooper previously served as the Australian Ambassador to Mexico and acted as a co-agent in the mediation process between Australia and Timor-Leste under the framework of UNCLOS, demonstrating her relevant experience in handling such mediation procedures.
The Nation reported today (15th) that the five-member mediation committee has been formally established. Thailand and Cambodia each appointed two mediators, and the four members jointly selected the fifth member to serve as chair, which is Cooper.
The report indicated that Thailand appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sihasak Phuangketkeow as the Agent and Ambassador to Kuwait Songchai Chaipatiyut as the Deputy Agent, and designated German judge Rüdiger Wolfrum and South African maritime law expert Albert Hoffman as mediators.
The report quoted the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs as saying that the mediation process is not a court litigation, and the mediators are independent experts, not legal representatives of any party. Their task is to listen to both sides and assist in seeking a balanced solution.
The committee is expected to hold its first meeting in September, where procedural rules will be discussed to serve as the operational framework for subsequent mediation work.
Thailand and Cambodia have long-standing sovereignty disputes in the Gulf of Thailand.
Approximately 26,000 square kilometers of maritime area in the Thai-Cambodian border region of the Gulf of Thailand are subject to sovereignty disputes. Reuters reported that it is estimated that this area contains significant reserves of natural gas and oil, valued at approximately 300 billion US dollars.
In addition, Thailand and Cambodia experienced intense border conflicts last year, resulting in nearly 150 deaths and the displacement of about 300,000 people. Both sides reached a ceasefire agreement in December last year, but the related disputes remain unresolved. (Editor: Chung Chin-lung)
Source Link: https://www.rti.org.tw/news?uid=3&pid=226416
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