Thai FM Noppadon Pattama planned to seek cabinet approval on applying for the reservoir and staircases leading to Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage site

Thai FM seeks temple reservoir, stair status as World Heritage site
BANGKOK, June 22 (TNA) -- Thai Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama said
Sunday he planned to seek cabinet approval on applying for the
reservoir and staircases leading to Preah Vihear temple as a World
Heritage site.

Speaking on radio, Mr. Noppadon said he would submit documents related
to the stream and the staircases to the Thai cabinet and then request
the United Nations Educational, Social and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO) which meets in Canada July 2-10 to consider listing the two
places as Thai
territory at the World Heritage site.

Sra Trao or Huay Trao is a stream reservoir running through the
bedrock foundations on the plain at the foot of Preah Vihear, before
it sinks into a subterranean tunnel reinforced by rock walls.

The Phnom Penh government will apply for registration of the ancient
temple itself as a World Heritage site during the upcoming UNESCO
meeting as both Thailand and Cambodia signed a joint communique
Wednesday endorsing the Cambodian application.

Defending his position that the statement would not give away Thai
territory, Mr. Noppadon said the delay in seeking registration of the
reservoir and the staircases as the World Heritage site arose because
he has been foreign minister only four months and has to solve
immediate problems first.

The Thai foreign minister said he had discussed his plan with the
Cambodian government, which had no objection.

However, Mr. Noppadon said UNESCO may not be able to consider the
request of the Thai government at next month's meeting due to time
constraints, but he said it is nonetheless better to apply first and
let the organisation's committee consider the application later. (TNA)

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