Thailand to remain as party to World Heritage Convention

Thailand's Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul on Thursday announced that Thailand would stay as a party to UNESCO's World Heritage Convention. The decision came after a meeting of the government's committee on the World Heritage Convention on Thursday. According to the FM, Thailand will ask the World Heritage Committee to wait for the ruling from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) before considering Phnom Penh's management plan of the World Heritage-listed Preah Vihear temple. Surapong said Thailand would benefit by retaining membership of the World Heritage Committee. The Thai government would write to UNESCO, asking that the World Heritage Committee also wait for the ruling of the international court before considering Cambodia's management plan for Preah Vihear, he added. The UNESCO earlier offered assistance for the restoration of historical sites in flood-stricken Ayutthaya province. On Oct. 18, the national committee on the World Heritage Convention will report its decision to the cabinet meeting. During the 35 session of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)'s World Heritage Committee in France in June, Suwit Khunkitti, the former Natural Resources and Environment Minister, announced Thailand's withdrawal from the World Heritage Convention to protest against the World Heritage Committee's decision to consider Cambodia's management plan for the ancient temple despite the ongoing border dispute. However, it was not made official yet.