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Cambodia and Thailand return to maritime talks in The Hague

Cambodia and Thailand will hold a second maritime-boundary conciliation meeting in The Hague on October 14–18. Their delegations bring legal and technical experts to a dispute over the boundary and resource sharing. Cambodia is seeking either a final treaty or interim joint development; the private meeting will explore areas of agreement after the first session in Singapore.

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Cambodian and Thai flags, closed books and a brass drafting compass on an empty oval table, with Hague-like architecture beyond the windows.

Delegations return on October 14–18

Cambodia and Thailand will return to maritime-boundary conciliation in The Hague, the Netherlands, on October 14–18. Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn will lead his delegation, while Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow heads Thailand’s team. The second session will explore progress and areas of agreement after an initial meeting in Singapore.[1], [2]

Thailand’s delegation will include technical specialists from maritime and energy agencies, with Pakorn Nilprapunt as adviser. Cambodia’s deputy representative will be Lam Chea, the minister responsible for border affairs.[2]

Cambodia keeps a treaty and resource sharing on the table

Cambodia seeks a treaty establishing a single maritime boundary. It also proposes joint development and equitable sharing of resources while the final boundary remains unresolved. If neither arrangement is achieved, Cambodia would ask the commission for recommendations to guide further negotiations. These remain its negotiating objectives; the governments have not concluded a new agreement.[1]

Private conciliation follows the Singapore session

The first meeting ended in Singapore on September 16. The five-member commission was formed under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the treaty governing maritime rights, and is chaired by Australian diplomat and legal expert Katrina Cooper. Proceedings in The Hague will be private. At the first session, Thailand objected to Cambodia choosing this process over bilateral talks; Cambodia reaffirmed its support for conciliation.[1]

For more information on this topic, you can read the related columns.

References

  1. News sourceCambodianessCambodia and Thailand schedule new maritime-boundary talks in The Hague↩1↩2↩3
  2. News sourceThai PBS WorldThailand prepares for second maritime-boundary meeting with Cambodia↩1↩2
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